El Paso City Code § 12.04.010 Short title.
12.04.010 - Short title.
This title may be known and cited as the "traffic ordinance."
(Prior code § 20-1)
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS
El Paso City Code tit. 12, ch. 12.04
in effectEl Paso City Code § 12.04.020 Definitions—Generally.
12.04.020 - Definitions—Generally.
The following words and phrases when used in this title shall for the purpose of this title have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in Sections 12.04.030 through 12.04.190.
(Prior code § 20-2 (part))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.030 Alley.
12.04.030 - Alley.
"Alley" means any public or private passageway or street as herein defined which is open to traffic and generally used as a means of reaching the rear end of lots or buildings.
(Prior code § 20-2(7))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.040 Bicycle.
12.04.040 - Bicycle.
"Bicycle" means a device, excluding a moped, that is capable of being ridden solely using human power and has either:
A. Two tandem wheels at least one of which is more than fourteen inches in diameter;
B. Three wheels, two of which are in parallel, and at least one of the three wheels is more than fourteen inches in diameter; or
C. Any number of wheels and adaptive technology that allows the device to be ridden by a person with a disability.
(Prior code § 20-2(2); Ord. No. 19268, § 1, 12-7-2021)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.050 Bulk oil station.
12.04.050 - Bulk oil station.
"Bulk oil station" means any place where flammable liquids are stored and at least seventy-five percent of such flammable liquids are thereafter distributed therefrom in tank trucks.
(Prior code § 20-2(13))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.060 Central traffic district.
12.04.060 - Central traffic district.
All streets and portions of streets within the central traffic district are described as follows:
All that area from the west curb of Kansas Street from Missouri Street to Paisano, north curb of Paisano from Kansas Street to Santa Fe Street, east curb of Santa Fe Street from Paisano to Missouri Street, south curb of Missouri from Santa Fe Street to Kansas Street.
(Prior code § 20-2(10))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.070 Commercial vehicle.
12.04.070 - Commercial vehicle.
"Commercial vehicle" means every vehicle designed, maintained or used primarily for the transportation of property.
(Prior code § 20-2(1))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.080 Curb loading zone.
12.04.080 - Curb loading zone.
"Curb loading zone" means a space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
(Prior code § 20-2(8))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.090 Five points traffic district.
12.04.090 - Five points traffic district.
"Five points traffic district" means all streets and portions of streets within the area described as follows:
All that area bounded by the north property line of Pershing Drive, the east property line of San Marcial Street, the north property line of U. S. Interstate highway number 10, and the west property line of Cedar Street.
(Prior code § 20-2(11))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.100 Flammable liquids.
12.04.100 - Flammable liquids.
"Flammable liquids" is defined the same as it is defined in the provisions of this code regulating the installation and operation of refineries and wholesale or bulk oil stations handling flammable liquids within the city, and shall include all class 1, 2 and 3 liquids and all liquefied petroleum gases.
(Prior code § 20-2(12))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.110 Legal holidays.
12.04.110 - Legal holidays.
"Legal holiday" shall be as defined in section 1.04.010 of this Code.
(Ord. 9287, § 1, 1988; prior code § 202(5)) (Ord. No. 17338, § 4, 6-1-2010)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.120 Median strip.
12.04.120 - Median strip.
"Median strip" means an intervening strip, physical barrier or clearly indicated dividing section which separates a street into two or more roadways.
(Prior code § 20-2(15))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.125 Motor assisted scooter.
12.04.125 - Motor assisted scooter.
"Motor assisted scooter" means a self-propelled device with: (1) at least two wheels in contact with the ground during operation; (2) a braking system capable of stopping the device under typical operating conditions; (3) a gas or electric motor not exceeding forty cubic centimeters; (4) a deck designed to allow a person to stand or sit while operating the device; and (5) the ability to be propelled by human power alone. This term does not include a moped, motorcycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven cycle, a motorized mobility device, a pocket bike, minimotorbike, electric personal assistive mobility device, or a neighborhood electric vehicle all of which are defined in the Texas Transportation Code.
(Ord. No. 18898, § 1, 1-8-2019)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.130 No parking zone.
12.04.130 - No parking zone.
"No parking zone" means a space adjacent to a curb in which no parking shall be allowed for any purpose. Such zones shall be marked by painting the curb yellow, or by appropriate signs, or by both such signs and yellow curb markings.
(Prior code § 20-2(9))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.140 Official time standard.
12.04.140 - Official time standard.
Whenever certain hours are named herein they shall mean mountain standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this city.
(Prior code § 20-2(4))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.150 Park.
12.04.150 - Park.
"Park" when prohibited means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers.
(Prior code § 20-2(3)(c))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.152 Piedras-Alameda district.
12.04.152 - Piedras-Alameda district.
All streets and portions of streets within the Piedras-Alameda district are described as follows:
All the area from the east curb of Cotton Street from Paisano Drive to Texas Avenue, south curb of Texas-Alameda from Cotton Street to Piedras Street, west curb of Piedras Street from Alameda Avenue to Paisano Drive, north curb of Paisano Drive from Piedras Street to Cotton Street.
All the area from the east curb of Piedras Street from Alameda Avenue to Paisano Drive, south curb of Alameda Avenue from Piedras Street to Copia Street, west curb of Copia Street from Alameda Avenue to Paisano Drive, north curb of Paisano Drive from Copia Street to Piedras Street.
All the area from the east curb of Piedras Street from Alameda Avenue to Gateway Boulevard East, south curb of Gateway Boulevard East from Piedras Street to Copia Street, west curb of Copia Street from Gateway Boulevard East to Alameda Avenue, north curb of Alameda Avenue from Copia Street to Piedras Street.
All the area from the east curb of Copia Street from Paisano Drive to Alameda Avenue, south curb of Alameda Avenue from Copia Street to Valverde Street, west curb of Valverde from Alameda Avenue to Paisano Drive, north curb of Paisano Drive from Valverde Street to Copia Street.
All the area from the east curb of Copia Street from Alameda Avenue to Gateway Blvd. East, south curb of Gateway Boulevard East from Copia Street to Raynolds Street, west curb of Raynolds Street from Gateway Boulevard East to Alameda Avenue, north curb of Alameda Avenue from Raynolds Street to Copia Street.
(Ord. 11071 § 1, 1992)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.155 South El Paso district.
12.04.155 - South El Paso district.
All streets and portions of streets within the South El Paso district are described as follows:
All the area from the east curb of Park Street from Paisano Drive to the Boarder Highway, south curb of Paisano Drive from Park Street to Santa Fe Street, east curb of Santa Fe Street from Paisano Drive to the Border Highway, north curb of the Border Highway from Santa Fe Street to Park Street.
All the area from west curb of Canal Street from Seventh Street to Bandera Street, south curb of Seventh Street from Canal Street to Charles Street, west curb of Charles Street from Seventh Street to Bandera Street, north curb of Bandera Street from Charles Street to Canal Street.
(Ord. 10957 § 1, 1992)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.160 Stop.
12.04.160 - Stop.
"Stop" when required means complete cessation of movement.
(Prior code § 20-2(3)(a))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.170 Stop, stopping or standing.
12.04.170 - Stop, stopping or standing.
"Stop," "stopping" or "standing" when prohibited means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.
(Prior code § 20-2(3)(b))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.180 Traffic division.
12.04.180 - Traffic division.
"Traffic division" means the traffic division of the police department of this city, or in the event a traffic division is not established, then such term whenever used herein shall be deemed to refer to the police department of this city.
(Prior code § 20-2(6))
El Paso City Code § 12.04.190 Traffic engineer.
12.04.190 - Traffic engineer.
"Traffic engineer" means the employee designated by the city manager who is trained and qualified to perform the duties of the traffic engineer as set forth within this Code.
(Ord. 16140 § 1, 2005: Ord. 13152 § 97, 1997: prior code § 20-2(14)) (Ord. No. 17394, § 1, 8-24-2010, eff. 9-1-2010)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.200 Definitions—Words not defined.
12.04.200 - Definitions—Words not defined.
A. Whenever any words and phrases used herein are not defined herein, but are defined in the state laws, such definitions shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein.
B. Whenever any words and phrases used herein are not defined in the state laws, but are defined in any traffic ordinance of this city, such definition shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein.
(Prior code § 20-3)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.210 Applicability of provisions—Operation of government vehicles.
12.04.210 - Applicability of provisions—Operation of government vehicles.
The provisions of this title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by, or used in the service of the United States government, this state, county or the city, and it is unlawful for any such driver to violate any of the provisions of this title, except as otherwise permitted in this title or by state law.
(Prior code § 20-14)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.220 Applicability of provisions—Persons propelling pushcarts, riding bicycles or animals, or driving animal-drawn vehicles.
12.04.220 - Applicability of provisions—Persons propelling pushcarts, riding bicycles or animals, or driving animal-drawn vehicles.
Every person propelling a push cart or riding a bicycle or an animal upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle, shall be subject to the provisions of this title applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.
(Prior code § 20-15)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.230 Obedience to police officers required.
12.04.230 - Obedience to police officers required.
No person shall knowingly fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic.
(Ord. 9454, 1988; prior code § 20-13)
El Paso City Code § 12.04.240 Violation of title provisions designated a misdemeanor.
12.04.240 - Violation of title provisions designated a misdemeanor.
It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden, or fail to perform any act required, in this title.
(Prior code § 20-12)
Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT12VETR_CH12.04GEPRDEFetched: 10/28/2026