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<br />GENERAL ORDINANCES 197
<br />constructed as to separate its driver from its passengers by a
<br />glass partition, and which said vehicle shall be equipped with a
<br />mechanical instrument, or device, commonly known as a taxi-
<br />meter.
<br />(dd) "For -Hire Car."—Shall mean a public passenger vehicle
<br />offered for hire, and not conforming to the definition of a taxi-
<br />cab or passenger motor bus as herein defined.
<br />TITLE 1.
<br />OPERATION OV VEHICLES; RULES OI: THE ROAD.
<br />Sec. 489(1). Persons under the influence of intoxicat-
<br />ing liquor, or narcotic drugs.
<br />It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or run any auto-
<br />mobile, car, truck, engine, or train while under the influence of
<br />intoxicants or narcotic drugs, or any other self-administered in-
<br />toxicants of whatsoever nature. If any person violates the pro-
<br />visions of this section he shall be guilty of misdemeanor punish-
<br />able by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than
<br />one thousand dollars, and imprisoned for not less than thirty
<br />days nor more than six months for the first offense, provided the
<br />court in a proper case may suspend the jail sentence. Any per-
<br />son convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this sec-
<br />tion, shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred
<br />dollars and not more than one thousand dollars and by impris-
<br />onment for not less than sixty days nor more than six months,
<br />and no court shall suspend the sentence. The judgment of con-
<br />viction for any offense under this section shall of itself operate
<br />to deprive him of his right to drive such vehicle or conveyance
<br />for a period of one year from the date of such judgment. If
<br />any person so convicted shall, during the year, drive any such
<br />vehicle or conveyance he shall be fined not more than $100.00 or
<br />confined in jail not more than sixty days, or both.
<br />The clerks of all courts of this City, or the Judge if there be
<br />no clerk, shall within thirty days after final conviction of any
<br />person under this section in this court report the fact thereof and
<br />the name and address of such person, together with the license
<br />198 CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY CODE
<br />plate number on the vehicle operated by such person, to the di-
<br />rector of the division of motor vehicles.
<br />Sec. 489(2). Reckless driving.
<br />Any person who drives a vehicle upon a highway recklessly,
<br />or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to en-
<br />danger life, limb or property of any person shall be guilty of
<br />reckless driving and punished as provided under subsection
<br />sixty-three of this section.
<br />Sec. 489(3). Restrictions as to speed.
<br />(a) Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive
<br />the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater nor less than
<br />is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, sur-
<br />face and width of the highway and of any other conditions then
<br />existing. And any person who shall drive any vehicle upon a
<br />highway at such speed as to endanger the life, limb or property
<br />of any person, or so as to unnecessarily block, hinder or retard
<br />the orderly and safe use of the highway by those following, shall
<br />be prima facie guilty of reckless driving.
<br />(b) Subject to the provisions of sub -division (a) of this sub-
<br />section and except in those instances where a lower speed is spec-
<br />ified in this section, it shall be prima facie lawful for the driver
<br />of any vehicle to drive the same at a speed not exceeding the fol-
<br />lowing:
<br />1. Fifteen miles an hour when passing a school during recess
<br />or while children are going to or leaving school during its open-
<br />ing and closing hours, provided, that markers be placed on the
<br />highways so as to plainly show the location of such schools.
<br />2. Fifteen miles an hour in a business district, as defined
<br />herein.
<br />3. Twenty-five miles an hour in a residence district, as de-
<br />fined herein.
<br />4. Forty-five miles an hour under all other conditions.
<br />(c) Reckless driving within the meaning of this section shall
<br />be deemed to include the following offenses, which are expressly
<br />prohibited:
<br />1. Driving a vehicle when not under complete control, or with
<br />inadequate or improperly adjusted brakes.
<br />GxNERAL ORDINANCES 199
<br />2. Driving to the left of the center of the street, except upon
<br />one way streets.
<br />3. Passing or attempting to pass two other vehicles abreast,
<br />moving in the same direction.
<br />4. Violating the provisions of the right of way laws, as set out
<br />in sub -section nineteen hereof.
<br />5. Failure to give adequate and timely signals of intention to
<br />turn or partly turn, slow down or stop.
<br />6. Exceeding a reasonable speed under the circumstances and
<br />traffic conditions obtaining at the time.
<br />7. Passing other vehicles going in the same direction while
<br />crossing an intersection or while pedestrians are passing or about
<br />to pass in front of either of such vehicles.
<br />8. Driving a vehicle out of an alley, lane, or building or across
<br />a sidewalk into a street, without first bringing such vehicle to a
<br />speed of five miles per hour.
<br />9. Making a left turn without passing the right of the center
<br />point of the intersection, unless otherwise marked or indicated,
<br />and without first signaling his intention so to turn.
<br />10. Making a right turn without keeping close to the curb,
<br />and without first signaling his intention so to turn.
<br />Sec. 48 9 (4) . Railroad warning signals must be obeyed.
<br />It shall be unlawful for any person driving a vehicle to fail to
<br />obey a clearly visible or audible crossing signal at a highway and
<br />interurban or steam railway grade crossing which signal gives
<br />warning of the immediate approach of a railway train.
<br />Sec. 489 (5). Vehicles must slow down at certain steam
<br />railway grade crossings.
<br />(a) It shall be the duty of every person driving any vehicle
<br />on a public highway, on approaching a place where a railway
<br />crosses such public highway at grade, at which crossing no rail-
<br />way gates are maintained or no flagman is stationed and on duty
<br />at the time, to bring his vehicle to a speed not exceeding five
<br />miles per hour before passing over such crossing, at a distance
<br />of not less than thirty feet, from the nearest rail of such railway
<br />tracks. Provided, that such person shall stop at such crossing
<br />200 CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY CODE
<br />where gates are maintained when such gates are closed down, or
<br />being lowered, and where a flagman is stationed and on duty at
<br />the time, whenever, signaled to stop by such flagman.
<br />(b) The provisions of this subsection shall not change or alter
<br />in any manner the existing laws as to the duty or liability of
<br />railway companies for damages to persons or property, and fail -
<br />tire to comply with the provisions of this subsection on the part
<br />of the driver of the vehicle shall not be considered contributory
<br />negligence in an action against the railway company for damage
<br />to persons or property, whether the same be injury to the per-
<br />son or property of the driver or any other person. And it shall
<br />not be necessary to establish the fact that the driver complied
<br />with the provisions of this section in order to recover any action
<br />for damages to persons or property against a railway company.
<br />Sec. 489(6). Speed limit for motor trucks, regulated
<br />according to manufacturer's rated capacity and tire
<br />equipment.
<br />The speed limit for motor trucks shall be based upon the
<br />manufacturer's rated capacity and tire equipment, and shall be
<br />as follows:
<br />(a) Motor trucks of rated capacity up to but not exceeding
<br />one and one-half tons, and equipped with pneumatic tires, may
<br />operate at the speed limits imposed by subsection three of this
<br />section.
<br />(b) Motor trucks of rated capacity not exceeding one and
<br />one-half tons, but not equipped with pneumatic tires, and motor
<br />trucks of rated capacity exceeding one and one-half tons, but
<br />not exceeding three and one-half tons, may operate at a speed
<br />not greater than two-thirds of the limits imposed in subsection
<br />three of this section.
<br />(c) Motor trucks of rated capacity exceeding three and one-
<br />half tons may be operated at a speed not greater than one-half
<br />the limits imposed by subsection three of this section.
<br />Sec. 489 (7) . Special speed limitations on bridges.
<br />It shall be unlawful to drive any vehicle upon any public
<br />bridge, causeway or viaduct at a speed which is greater than the
<br />maximum speed which can with safety to such structure be
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