TRANSPORTATION CODE CHAPTER 544. TRAFFIC SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND MARKINGS Sec. A 544.001. AA
TRANSPORTATION CODE
CHAPTER 544. TRAFFIC SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND MARKINGS
Sec.
A
544.001.
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ADOPTION OF SIGN MANUAL FOR STATE HIGHWAYS.
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The
Texas
Transportation
Commission
shall
adopt
a
manual
and
specifications
for a
uniform
system
of
traffic-control
devices
consistent with this chapter that correlates with and to the extent
possible
conforms
to
the
system
approved
by
the
American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec.
A
544.002.
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PLACING
AND
MAINTAINING
TRAFFIC-CONTROL
DEVICE.
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(a)
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To implement this subtitle, the Texas Department of
Transportation may place and maintain a traffic-control device on a
state highway as provided by the manual and specifications adopted
under Section 544.001.
The Texas Department of Transportation may
provide
for
the
placement
and
maintenance
of
the
device
under
Section 221.002.
(b)
AA
To implement this subtitle or a local traffic ordinance,
a local authority may place and maintain a traffic-control device
on
a
highway
under
the
authority
s
jurisdiction.
The
traffic-control
device
must
conform
to
the
manual
and
specifications adopted under Section 544.001.
(c)
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A
local
authority
may
not
place
or
maintain
a
traffic-control device on a highway under the jurisdiction of the
Texas
Department
of
Transportation
without
that
department
s
permission.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec.
A
544.003.
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AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE THROUGH HIGHWAY AND
STOP
AND
YIELD
INTERSECTIONS.
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(a)
AA
The
Texas
Transportation
Commission may:
(1)
AA
designate a state or county highway as a through
highway and place a stop or yield sign at a specified entrance;
or
(2)
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designate an intersection on a state or county
highway as a stop intersection or a yield intersection and place a
sign at one or more entrances to the intersection.
(b)
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A local authority may:
(1)
AA
designate a highway under its jurisdiction as a
through highway and place a stop or yield sign at a specified
entrance;
or
(2)
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designate an intersection on a highway under its
jurisdiction as a stop intersection or a yield intersection and
place a sign at one or more entrances to the intersection.
(c)
AA
The
stop
or
yield
sign
indicating
the
preferential
right-of-way must:
(1)
AA
conform to the manual and specifications adopted
under Section 544.001;
and
(2)
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be located:
(A)
AA
as near as practicable to the nearest line of
the crosswalk;
or
(B)
AA
in the absence of a crosswalk, at the nearest
line of the roadway.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec.
A
544.004.
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COMPLIANCE
WITH
TRAFFIC-CONTROL
DEVICE.
A
(a)
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The operator of a vehicle or streetcar shall comply with an
applicable official traffic-control device placed as provided by
this subtitle unless the person is:
(1)
AA
otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer;
or
(2)
AA
operating an authorized emergency vehicle and is
subject to exceptions under this subtitle.
(b)
AA
A
provision
of
this
subtitle
requiring
an
official
traffic-control
device
may
not
be
enforced
against
an
alleged
violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation the
device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to an
ordinarily observant person.
A provision of this subtitle that
does not require an official traffic-control device is effective
regardless of whether a device is in place.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec.
A
544.005.
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INTERFERENCE WITH TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICE OR
RAILROAD
SIGN
OR
SIGNAL.
A
A
person
may
not,
without
lawful
authority,
alter,
injure,
knock
down,
or
remove
or
attempt
to
alter, injure, knock down, or remove:
(1)
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an
official
traffic-control
device
or
railroad
sign or signal;
(2)
AA
an inscription, shield, or insignia on an official
traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal; or
1 (3)
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another part of an official traffic-control device
or railroad sign or signal.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec.
544.0055.
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TRAFFIC-CONTROL
SIGNAL
PREEMPTION
DEVICE;
OFFENSE.
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(a)
AA
In this section, "traffic-control signal preemption
device" means a device designed, intended, or used to interfere
with or alter the operation of a traffic-control signal.
(b)
AA
Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person commits
an offense if the person uses, sells, offers for sale, purchases, or
possesses
for
use
or
sale
a
traffic-control
signal
preemption
device.
(c)
AA
The possession of a traffic-control signal preemption
device creates the presumption that the person possessed the device
for use or sale.
(d)
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An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
(e)
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This section does not apply to:
(1)
AA
a
person
who
provides
fire-fighting,
law
enforcement, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services in the
course of providing those services;
(2)
AA
a
manufacturer,
wholesaler,
or
retailer
of
traffic-control
signal
preemption
devices
in
the
course
of
manufacturing,
selling,
providing,
or
transporting
a
traffic-control signal preemption device to a person described by
Subdivision (1); or
(3)
AA
a transit vehicle operated by an authority under
Chapter 451 or 452 or a transit department under Chapter 453.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 244, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 2005.
Sec.
A
544.006.
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DISPLAY OF UNAUTHORIZED SIGNS, SIGNALS, OR
MARKINGS.
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(a)
AA
A person may not place, maintain, or display on or
in view of a highway an unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or
device that:
(1)
AA
imitates or resembles an official traffic-control
device or railroad sign or signal;
(2)
AA
attempts to direct the movement of traffic; or
(3)
AA
hides from view or hinders the effectiveness of an
official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal.
(b)
AA
A person may not place or maintain on a highway, and a
public authority may not permit on a highway, a traffic sign or
signal bearing commercial advertising.
(c)
AA
A person may not place or maintain a flashing light or
flashing electric sign within 1,000 feet of an intersection except
under a permit issued by the Texas Transportation Commission.
(d)
AA
This section does not prohibit a person from placing on
private property adjacent to a highway a sign that gives useful
directional information and that cannot be mistaken for an official
sign.
(e)
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A sign, signal, light, or marking prohibited under this
section is a public nuisance.
The authority with jurisdiction over
the highway may remove that sign, signal, light, or marking without
notice.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Sec.
A
544.007.
AA
TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS IN GENERAL.
A
(a)
AA
A
traffic-control
signal
displaying
different
colored
lights
or
colored lighted arrows successively or in combination may display
only green, yellow, or red and applies to operators of vehicles as
provided by this section.
(b)
AA
An operator of a vehicle facing a circular green signal
may proceed straight or turn right or left unless a sign prohibits
the
turn.
The
operator
shall
yield
the
right-of-way
to
other
vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully in the intersection or an
adjacent crosswalk when the signal is exhibited.
(c)
AA
An operator of a vehicle facing a green arrow signal,
displayed alone or with another signal, may cautiously enter the
intersection to move in the direction permitted by the arrow or
other indication shown simultaneously.
The operator shall yield
the right-of-way to a pedestrian lawfully in an adjacent crosswalk
and other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(d)
AA
An operator of a vehicle facing only a steady red signal
shall stop at a clearly marked stop line.
In the absence of a stop
line, the operator shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the
near side of the intersection.
A vehicle that is not turning shall
remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
After
stopping, standing until the intersection may be entered safely,
and yielding right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully in an adjacent
crosswalk and other traffic lawfully using the intersection, the
2 operator may:
(1)
AA
turn right;
or
(2)
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turn left, if the intersecting streets are both
one-way streets and a left turn is permissible.
(e)
AA
An operator of a vehicle facing a steady yellow signal
is warned by that signal that:
(1)
AA
movement authorized by a green signal is being
terminated;
or
(2)
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a red signal is to be given.
(f)
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The
Texas
Transportation
Commission,
a
municipal
authority, or the commissioners court of a county may prohibit
within the entity
s jurisdiction a turn by an operator of a vehicle
facing a steady red signal by posting notice at the intersection
that the turn is prohibited.
(g)
AA
This
section
applies
to
an
official
traffic-control
signal placed and maintained at a place other than an intersection,
except for a provision that by its nature cannot apply.
A required
stop shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating
where the stop shall be made.
In the absence of such a sign or
marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.
(h)
AA
The obligations imposed by this section apply to an
operator
of
a
streetcar
in
the
same
manner
they
apply
to
the
operator of a vehicle.
(i)
AA
An operator of a vehicle facing a traffic-control signal
that does not display an indication in any of the signal heads shall
stop as provided by Section 544.010 as if the intersection had a
stop sign.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended
by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1325, Sec. 19.04, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec.
544.0075.
AA
CERTAIN
TRAF