CHAPTER 6 VEHICLE EQUIPMENT AND CONDITION SECTION: 8-6-1: 8-6-2: 8-6-3: 8-6-4: 8-6-5: 8-6-6: 8-6-7: 8-6-8: 8-6-9: 8-6-10: 8-6-11: 8-6-12: Obstruction to Driver's View or Viewing Mechanism Lights Signal Lamps and Signal Devices Horn Muffler Brakes Nonskid Devices Projecting Loads School Buses Towing or Pushing Vehicles Prohibited Conditions Inspections 8-6-1: OBSTRUCTION TO DRIVER'S VIEW OR VIEWING MECHANISM: A. No person may drive a vehicle when it is so loaded or when there are in the front seat such number of persons as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle or as to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle. B. No passenger in a vehicle may ride in such position as to interfere with the driver's view ahead or to the sides or to interfere with his control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle. C. No passenger on a school bus may ride or stand in a position as to interfere with the driver's view ahead or to the side or to the rear or to interfere with his control of the driving mechanism of the bus. 8-6-2: LIGHTS: A. General Requirements: 1. It shall be unlawful to operate or park on any street any vehicle not equipped with adequate lights conforming to the requirements of this Title, except as allowed by special ordinance. 2. All motor vehicles shall, during the period from sunset to sunrise, or at any other time when visibility is so limited as to require the use of lights for safety, exhibit two (2) lighted driving lamps; except, that a motorcycle need exhibit only one such driving lamp, showing white lights, or lights of a yellow or amber tint, visible for at least five hundred feet (500') in the direction the motor vehicle is proceeding. Parking lamps may be used in addition to but not in lieu of any such driving lamps. Every motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer shall also exhibit at least two (2) lighted lamps, commonly known as tail lamps, which shall be mounted on the left rear and right rear of the vehicle so as to throw a red light visible for at least five hundred feet (500') in the reverse direction; except, that a motorcycle or a truck tractor or road manufactured before January 1, 1968, need be equipped with only one such lamp. 3. Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light a rear registration plate when required and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet (50') to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating a rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the driving lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted. B. Duty to Dim Headlights: 1. Whenever the driver of any vehicle equipped with an electric driving headlamp or headlamps is within five hundred feet (500') of another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction, the driver shall dim or drop such headlamp or headlamps. 2. The driver of any vehicle equipped with an electric driving headlamp or headlamps shall dim or drop headlamp or headlamps when there is another vehicle traveling in the same direction less than three hundred feet (300') to the front of him. 8-6-3: SIGNAL LAMPS AND SIGNAL DEVICES: A. Signal Lamps: Every vehicle other than an antique vehicle displaying an antique plate operated in this City shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red or amber light visible from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500') to the rear in normal sunlight and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with other rear lamps. During times when lighted lamps are not required, an antique vehicle may be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of such vehicle of the same type originally installed by the manufacturer as original equipment and in working order. B. Turn Signals: 1. Every motor vehicle other than an antique vehicle displaying an antique plate shall be equipped with an electric turn signal device which shall indicate the intention of the driver to turn to the right or to the left in the form of flashing lights located at and showing to the front and rear of the vehicle on the side of the vehicle toward which the turn is to be made. The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit a white or amber light, or any shade of light between white and amber. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit a red or amber light. An antique vehicle shall be equipped with a turn signal device of the same type originally installed by the manufacturer as original equipment and in working order. 2. Every trailer and semi-trailer shall be equipped with an electric turn signal device which indicates the intention of the driver in the power unit to turn to the right or to the left in the form of flashing red or amber lights located at the rear of the vehicle on the side toward which the turn is to be made and mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. 3. Turn signal lamps must be visible from a distance of not less than three hundred feet (300') in normal sunlight. 4. Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles need not be equipped with electric turn signals; antique vehicles need not be equipped with turn signals unless such were installed by the manufacturer as original equipment. 8-6-4: HORN: Every motor vehicle of the first and second division, when operated upon a street or highway, shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than two hundred feet (200'), but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle or bell, except as otherwise permitted by this Code. The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation, give audible warning with his horn, but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a street or highway. 8-6-5: MUFFLER: Every motor vehicle driven or operated upon the streets and highways of this City shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler or exhaust system in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise. No such muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutoff, bypass or similar device. No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise of such vehicles above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and such original muffler shall comply with all the requirements of this Section. As used in this Section, "muffler" means a device consisting of a series of chambers or baffle plates or other mechanical design for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and effective in reducing noise. 8-6-6: BRAKES: It shall be unlawful to drive any motor vehicle upon a City street unless such vehicle is equipped with brakes in good working condition or to operate any vehicle which is so loaded that the operator does not have ready access to the mechanics operating the brakes of such a vehicle. A. Brake Equipment Required: 1. Every motor vehicle, other than a motor-driven cycle and an antique vehicle displaying an antique plate, when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle, including two (2) separate means of applying the brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least one (1) wheel on a motorcycle and at least two (2) wheels on all other first division and second division vehicles. If these two (2) separate means of applying the brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes. 2. Every motor-driven cycle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with at least one brake which may be operated by hand or foot. 3. Every antique vehicle shall be equipped with the brakes of the same type originally installed by the manufacturer as original equipment and in working order. 4. Every trailer or semi-trailer of a gross weight of three thousand (3,000) pounds or more, when operated upon a highway, must be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of, to stop and to hold such vehicle and designed so as to be operable by the driver of the towing vehicle from its cab. Such brakes must be so designed and connected that, in case of an accidental breakaway of a towed vehicle five thousand (5,000) pounds or more, the brakes are automatically applied. 5. Every motor vehicle, trailer, pole trailer or semi-trailer operated upon the streets or highways shall be equipped with service brakes upon all wheels of every such vehicle, except any motor-driven cycle, and except that any trailer, pole trailer or semi-trailer of less than three thousand (3,000) pounds gross weight need not be equipped with brakes, and except that any trailer or semi-trailer with gross weight of three thousand (3,000) pounds but under five thousand (5,000) pounds need be equipped with brakes on only one wheel on each side of the vehicle. Any motor vehicle and truck tractor having three (3) or more axles need not have brakes on the front wheels, except when such vehicles are equipped with at least two (2) steerable axles, the wheels of one such axle need not be equipped with brakes. However, a vehicle that is more than thirty (30) years of age and which is driven on the highways only in going to and returning from an antique auto show or for servicing or for a demonstration need be equipped with two (2) wheel brakes only. B. Performance Ability of Brakes: 1. Performance Ability: The service brakes upon any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on a level surface shall be adequate to stop such vehicle or vehicles when traveling twenty (20) miles per hour within a distance of thirty feet (30) when upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material. Under the above conditions, the hand brake shall be adequate to stop such vehicle or vehicles, except any motorcycle, within a distance of fifty five feet (55') and the hand brake shall be adequate to hold such vehicle or vehicles stationary on any grade upon which operated. Under the above conditions, the service brake upon an antique vehicle shall be adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of forty feet (40') and the hand brake adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of fifty five feet (55'). All braking distances specified in this Section apply to all vehicles mentioned, whether such vehicles are unloaded or are loaded to the maximum capacity permitted under this Title. 2. Maintenance of Brakes: All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equal as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. 3. Mobile Homes: Brake assembly requirements for mobile homes shall be the standards required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. 8-6-7: NONSKID DEVICES: No farm tractor, tractor engine, motor truck or other similar vehicle shall be operated across, over or along any improved or oil-treated street if any such vehicle has on the periphery of any of the road wheels any block, stud, flange, cleat, ridge, lug, or any projection of metal or wood which projects radially beyond the tread or traffic surface of the road wheel; except, that this prohibition shall not apply to tractors or traction engines equipped with what is known as "crawler-type" tractors when the same does not contain any projection of any kind likely to injure the surface of the street or to tractors, traction engines and similar vehicles which have upon their road wheels V-shaped diagonal or other cleats arranged in such manner as to be continuously in contact with the roadway surface. In no event shall the oil mat surface of any oil-treated street be used as an area or space for turning any farm tractor or other farm machinery in carrying on or performing any farming operations upon the adjacent land. 8-6-8: PROJECTING LOADS: No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on any highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of such vehicle nor extending more than six inches (6") beyond the line of the fenders on the right side thereof. 8-6-9: SCHOOL BUSES: A. Identification: Each school bus shall have the sign "SCHOOL BUS" painted on the front and rear of the bus as high as practicable in letters at least eight inches (8") high. The rated seating capacity and vehicle weight shall be painted on the body to the left of the service door in letters at least two inches (2") high. The name of the owner or the entity for which the school bus is operated or both shall be painted in a contrasting color on both sides, centered as high as practical below the window line, in letters at least four inches (4") high. A school bus identification number shall be painted as high as practical on both the front and rear of the bus in letters at least four inches (4") high. Decals may be used instead of painting. B. Stop Signal Arm: Each school bus shall be equipped with a stop signal arm on the driver's side of the school bus which may be operated either manually or mechanically. The arm shall be a rectangular or a hexagon shaped semaphore and on buses purchased after December 31, 1975, shall be a hexagon-shaped semaphore approximately eighteen inches (18") wide and eighteen inches (18") long and of 16-gauge metal. "STOP" shall be painted on both sides in white letters at least six inches (6") high with a brush stroke approximately seven-eights of an inch (7/8") wide and on a red background approximately eight inches by sixteen inches (8" x 16"). Decals may be used instead of painting. The remaining area of the stop signal arm shall be painted white and shall either be reflectorized or shall have two (2) double faced lamps with plain, red lens approximately four inches (4") in diameter located one at the topmost and one at the bottommost position of the arm. Such lamps shall light and flash when the arm is extended and shall turn off and stop flashing when the arm is closed. 8-6-10: TOWING OR PUSHING VEHICLES: A. Towing Vehicles: 1. When one vehicle is towing another, the drawbar or other connection shall be of sufficient strength to pull all the weight towed thereby, and the drawbar or other connection shall not exceed fifteen feet (15') from one vehicle to the other, except for the connection between any two (2) vehicles transporting poles, pipes, machinery or other objects of a structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered. 2. Outside a business, residential or suburban district or on any controlled-access highway, no vehicle other than a pole trailer or a semi-trailer which is being towed by a truck trailer and is connected by the means of a fifth wheel shall be towed on a roadway except by a drawbar, and such vehicle so towed shall, in addition, be coupled with two (2) safety chains or cables to the towing vehicle. Such chains or cables shall be of sufficient size and strength to prevent the towed vehicle from parting from the drawing vehicle in case the drawbar should break or become disengaged. 3. When one vehicle is towing another and the connection consists of a chain, rope or cable, there shall be displayed upon such connection a yellow flag or cloth not less than sixteen inches (16") square. B. Pushing Vehicles: No person shall push a vehicle with another vehicle upon any public way for a distance greater than six hundred feet (600'). C. Warning Lights: Every disabled vehicle being pushed or towed on any public way between the hour of sunset and the hour of sunrise shall display a red light plainly visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the sides and rear thereof. Said red light shall be in addition to any other lights required by any law or ordinance. D. No person shall drive any vehicle pushing or towing a disabled vehicle at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper having regard to the traffic and the use of the way or so as to endanger life or limb or injure the property of any person. 8-6-11: PROHIBITED CONDITIONS: A. Driving Unsafe Vehicles: It is unlawful for any person to drive or move or for the owner to cause or to knowingly permit to be driven or moved on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or property or which does not contain those parts or is not at all times equipped with such lamps and other equipment in proper condition and adjustment as required by this Title or which is equipped in any manner in violation of this Title. B. Gas and Smoke Emissions: It shall be unlawful to operate any vehicle which emits dense clouds of gas or smoke or such an amount of smoke or fumes as to be dangerous to the health of persons or as to endanger the drivers of other vehicles. C. Spilling Loads; Mud Deposits: 1. No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any City street unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom; except, that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction, or water or other substance may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining such roadway. 2. No person shall operate on any City streets any vehicle with any load unless said load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent said covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the streets. 3. No person shall operate on any public street within the City any truck or other vehicle when mud, sand or other like substance is likely to be thrown off the tires or treads of such vehicle and deposited on the streets in noticeable quantities. 8-6-12: INSPECTIONS: The Chief of Police or his duly appointed agent is empowered at all times to inspect any vehicle to determine its compliance with the equipment and other provisions of this Chapter.