(7)1.1 Definitions
(7)1.1 Definitions
Provides definitions for the purposes of Title 7 (Motor Vehicle Code)
(7)1.1.1 Motor Vehicle
“Motor vehicle” means any self-propelled vehicle that is designed for or capable of transporting persons or property upon a public roadway, and that is not operated exclusively upon rails.
(7)1.1.2 Trailer
“Trailer” means every vehicle, with or without a body, that is not self-propelled and that is designed for carrying property or persons and for being drawn by a motor vehicle upon a highway.
(7)1.1.3 Driver
“Driver” means any person who operates or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a roadway.
(7)1.1.4 Passenger
“Passenger” means any person who is transported by a motor vehicle and who is not the driver of such vehicle (as defined in (7)1.1.3).
(7)1.1.5 Light
“Light” means any lighting device, signal lamp, or illuminating apparatus mounted on or affixed to a motor vehicle or trailer and used for the purpose of illuminating the roadway, making the vehicle visible, or conveying a visual signal.
(7)1.1.6 Seat Belt
“Seat belt” means an occupant restraint system installed in a motor vehicle by the manufacturer or in compliance with applicable safety standards, designed to secure an occupant in a seating position during vehicle operation or sudden deceleration.
(7)1.1.7 Tire
“Tire” means any rubber-covered device attached to a wheel rim and designed for use in contact with the roadway to support and propel a vehicle.
(7)1.1.8 Commercial Vehicle
“Commercial vehicle” means any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is used or maintained for the purpose of carrying persons or property for compensation or in connection with any trade, business, or occupation.
(7)1.1.9 Traffic Control Device
“Traffic control device” means any sign, signal, marking, or other device placed, erected, or maintained under the authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.
(7)1.1.10 Horn
“Horn” means an audible warning device installed on a motor vehicle and designed to emit sound for the purpose of signaling or alerting other road users.
(7)1.1.11 Emergency Vehicle
“Emergency vehicle” means a motor vehicle authorized by law to respond to emergency calls or situations and to be equipped with audible and visual warning devices, including vehicles operated by law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and other public safety agencies.
(7)1.1.12 Emergency Lights
“Emergency lights” means flashing, oscillating, or rotating lights of authorized colors mounted on or displayed by an emergency vehicle to provide a visual warning.
(7)1.1.13 Public Roadway
“Public roadway” means any roadway, street, highway, or thoroughfare that is open to public vehicular travel and maintained by a governmental authority, regardless of whether access is restricted at particular times or for particular uses.
(7)1.1.14 Shoulder
“Shoulder” means the area of a roadway adjacent to the traveled portion, whether paved or unpaved, intended or used for emergency stopping, vehicle recovery, or lateral roadway support.
(7)1.1.15 Sidewalk
“Sidewalk” means that portion of a street or highway, situated between the curb or edge of the roadway and the adjacent property line, designed or ordinarily used for pedestrian travel.
(7)1.1.16 Right of Way
“Right-of-way” means the preferential right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed lawfully in a particular direction or manner in relation to another vehicle, pedestrian, or conveyance.
(7)1.1.17 Yield
“Yield” means to slow, stop when necessary, or otherwise refrain from proceeding so as to permit another vehicle, pedestrian, or road user having the right-of-way to proceed without interference or hazard.
(7)1.1.18 Tint
“Tint” means any substance or modification, whether factory-installed or aftermarket, that affects the amount or character of light passing through a vehicle window.
(7)1.1.19 Highway
“Highway” means any public roadway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, or other thoroughfare, including bridges and causeways, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, whether or not access is restricted.
(7)1.1.20 Lane
“Lane” means a longitudinal division of a roadway, clearly marked or otherwise indicated, intended to guide a single line of moving vehicles.
(7)1.1.21 Semitrailer
“Semitrailer” means any vehicle, with or without a body, that is not self-propelled and that is designed for carrying property or persons and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, lacking a front axle such that a substantial portion of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle when coupled thereto.
(7)1.1.22 Recreational Vehicle / RV
“Recreational vehicle” or “RV” means any motor vehicle or trailer that is designed, constructed, or equipped to provide temporary living accommodations for recreational, camping, or travel use, including, but not limited to, motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, camper vans, and truck campers.
(7)1.1.23 Bicycle
“Bicycle” means a human-powered vehicle, having two or more wheels, that is designed to be ridden by one or more persons and that is propelled solely by pedals or other human-powered mechanisms.
(7)1.1.24 Electric Bicycle
“Electric bicycle” means a vehicle having two or more wheels, designed to be ridden by one or more persons, that is equipped with an electric motor to provide pedal assistance or propulsion, where the motor’s power output and maximum speed comply with limits established by law for electric-assisted bicycles. For purposes of this code, an electric bicycle is distinct from a bicycle.
(7)1.1.25 Motorcycle
“Motorcycle” means a motor vehicle, other than a tractor or moped, having a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and having two or three wheels, and that is primarily designed for on-road travel.
(7)1.1.26 Off-Road Vehicle
“Off-road vehicle” means any motorized vehicle that is designed, manufactured, or modified primarily for travel over unpaved surfaces, trails, or terrain, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, utility task vehicles (UTVs), and snowmobiles, and that is not principally intended for operation on public roadways.
(7)1.1.27 Intersection
“Intersection” means the area where two or more public roadways, streets, or highways join or cross each other, including any portion within the prolongation of the lateral curb lines or edges of the roadway, whether or not the roadways cross at right angles, and including the junctions of alleys or driveways with a roadway when regulated by traffic control devices.
(7)1.1.28 Crosswalk
“Crosswalk” means that portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections, or any portion of a roadway distinctly marked for pedestrian crossing by lines, symbols, or other markings, whether at an intersection or mid-block, and whether or not accompanied by traffic control devices.
(7)1.1.29 Person
“Person” means any natural individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity, and includes any officer, agent, or employee thereof, where the context requires or permits.
(7)1.1.30 Brakes
“Brakes” means any mechanical, hydraulic, or electric device or system installed on a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer for the purpose of retarding, controlling, or stopping the movement of the vehicle, including service brakes, parking brakes, emergency brakes, and any combination thereof.
(7)1.1.31 Mirror
“Mirror” means any reflective device mounted on or affixed to a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer for the purpose of providing the operator with a view of the roadway or traffic conditions behind or to the side of the vehicle.
(7)1.1.32 Rearview Mirror
“Rearview mirror” means a mirror mounted inside or outside a motor vehicle that provides the operator with a view of the roadway or traffic conditions to the rear of the vehicle, and that is intended to assist in safe vehicle operation.
(7)1.1.33 Turn Signals
“Turn signals” means any visual signaling device, mounted on a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, that emits a flashing or steady light to indicate the operator’s intention to turn, change lanes, or otherwise alter the vehicle’s direction of travel, in accordance with applicable law.
(7)1.1.34 Headlights
“Headlights” means any lighting device mounted on the front of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, designed to illuminate the roadway ahead and make the vehicle visible to other road users, including low-beam, high-beam, and auxiliary driving lights, as required or permitted by law.
(7)1.1.35 High-Beam Headlights
“High-beam headlights” means the forward-facing lighting devices on a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that emit a concentrated, long-range beam of light intended to provide maximum roadway illumination under conditions where low-beam headlights are insufficient, and that are designed to be dimmed or switched to low-beam operation to avoid dazzling other road users.
(7)1.1.36 Brake Lights
“Brake lights” means the rear-facing lighting devices on a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that illuminate when the service brakes are applied, intended to signal to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping.
(7)1.1.37 DOT Compliant Helmet
“DOT compliant helmet” means a protective headgear designed for use by operators and passengers of motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or mopeds that meets the minimum performance and safety standards established by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 (FMVSS 218), including impact attenuation, penetration resistance, retention system strength, and labeling requirements.
(7)1.1.38 Driver’s License
“Driver’s license” means any authorization issued by the appropriate governmental agency permitting a person to operate a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer upon public roadways, including licenses issued for specific vehicle classes, endorsements, or restrictions, and issued in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
(7)1.1.39 Driving Permit
“Driving permit” means a limited authorization issued by the appropriate governmental agency that allows a person to operate a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer under specific conditions, such as under the supervision of a licensed driver, for purposes of learning or practice, and subject to applicable age, time, or restriction requirements.
(7)1.1.40 Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
“Commercial driver’s license” or “CDL” means a license issued by the appropriate governmental agency that authorizes the holder to operate commercial motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers, including vehicles used for the transportation of passengers, hazardous materials, or cargo, in compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.
(7)1.1.41 Bus
“Bus” means a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for the transportation of passengers, whether for compensation or not, and having a seating capacity of more than ten passengers, including the driver, or any vehicle so designated by law or regulation for passenger transport purposes.
(7)1.1.42 Construction Zone
“Construction zone” means any portion of a roadway, street, or highway where construction, maintenance, or utility work is being performed, indicated by signs, cones, barriers, flaggers, or other traffic control devices, and where special traffic regulations, reduced speed limits, or other safety measures are in effect to protect workers and road users.
(7)1.1.43 School Zone
“School zone” means any area of a roadway, street, or highway contiguous to or adjacent to a school, including the approaches to the school, that is designated by signs, markings, or other official means, where reduced speed limits or other traffic regulations apply during school hours or times when children are present.
(7)1.1.44 Flagger
“Flagger” means any person authorized and trained to control or direct traffic in a construction zone, maintenance area, or other roadway work site, using signs, flags, signals, or other devices, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of workers and road users.
(7)1.1.45 Liability Insurance
“Liability insurance” means any insurance policy, bond, or other financial responsibility mechanism, issued by a licensed insurer or authorized entity, that provides coverage for damages or injuries caused to persons or property by the operation of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, in accordance with minimum limits and conditions established by law.
(7)1.1.46 Registered Owner
“Registered owner” means the person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity in whose name a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is registered with the appropriate governmental agency, and who is responsible for compliance with registration, titling, and applicable law, regardless of whether the vehicle is held under a lease, loan, or other arrangement.
(7)1.1.47 License Plate
“License plate” means any metal, plastic, or other material plate or tag issued by the appropriate governmental agency for attachment to a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, displaying registration numbers, letters, symbols, or other identifying marks, for the purpose of vehicle identification and evidence of registration.
(7)1.1.48 Doors
“Doors” means any hinged, sliding, or otherwise movable panel or barrier forming part of the body of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, designed to allow entry into or exit from the passenger compartment or cargo area, and intended to provide protection, security, and structural integrity.
(7)1.1.49 Traffic Light
"Traffic light" means a traffic control device that uses colored lights, typically red, yellow, and green, displayed individually or in combination, to regulate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians at an intersection, crosswalk, or roadway segment.
(7)1.1.50 Stop Sign
"Stop sign" means a traffic control device, typically an octagonal sign displaying the word “STOP,” placed at an intersection or roadway to require drivers to bring their vehicles to a complete stop and yield the right-of-way to other vehicles or pedestrians as required by law before proceeding.