Devices. All traffic control devices shall conform to the state manual and specifications.

(K.S.A. 8-2005)

Presumption of Legality.

(a)   The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto, placed in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this ordinance.

(b)   No provision of this ordinance for which official traffic- control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that official traffic-control devices are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place.

(c)   Whenever official traffic-control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this ordinance, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.

(d)   Any official traffic-control device placed pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this ordinance, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.

(K.S.A. 8-1507)

Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

(a)   Green Indication.

(1)   Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn; but vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.

(2)   Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may enter the intersection cautiously only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(3)   Unless otherwise provided by a pedestrian-control signal, as provided in Section 14, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(b)   Steady Yellow Indication.

(1)   Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection.

(2)   Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 14, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

(c)   Steady Red Indication.

(1)   Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown, except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection. Any turn provided for in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) shall be governed by the applicable provisions of Section 49 of this ordinance.

(2)   Unless a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn after stopping as required by paragraph (1) of this subsection. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(3)   Unless a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic upon a roadway restricted to one-way traffic facing a steady red signal at the intersection of such roadway with another roadway restricted to one-way traffic which is proceeding to the left of such vehicular traffic, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a left turn after stopping as required by paragraph (1) of this subsection. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(4)   The driver of a motorcycle or person riding a bicycle facing any steady red signal, which fails to change to a green light within a reasonable period of time because of a signal malfunction or because the signal has failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle or bicycle because of its size or weight, shall have the right to proceed subject to the rules stated herein. After stopping, the driver or rider shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in or near the intersection or approaching on a roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver or rider is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways. Such motorcycle or bicycle traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(5)   Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in Section 14, pedestrians facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal alone shall not enter the roadway.

(d)   In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.

(K.S.A. Supp. 8-1508)

(a)   Except as provided in subsection (c), it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly possess a traffic control signal preemption device.

(b)   A person convicted of violating subsection (a) shall be guilty of a code violation and subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(c)   The provisions of this section shall not apply to the operator, passenger, or owner of any of the following authorized emergency vehicles, in the course of such person’s emergency duties:

(1)   Publicly owned fire department vehicles;

(2)   Publicly owned police vehicles; or

(3)   Motor vehicles operated by ambulance services permitted by the emergency medical services board.

Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words “walk” or “don’t walk” or symbols of “walking person” or “upraised palm” are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows:

(a)   Flashing or Steady Walk or Walking Person. Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.

(b)   Flashing or Steady Don’t Walk or Upraised Palm. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the “walk” or “walking person” signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the “don’t walk” or “upraised palm” signal is showing.

(K.S.A. 8-1509)

(a)   Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow light is used in a traffic signal or with a traffic sign it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:

(1)   Flashing Red (Stop Signal). When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering it, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

(2)   Flashing Yellow (Caution Signal). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.

(b)   This section shall not apply at railroad grade crossings. Conduct of drivers of vehicles approaching railroad grade crossing shall be governed by the rules as set forth in Section 76 of this ordinance.

(K.S.A. 8-1510)

When lane direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, such signals indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles as follows:

(a)   Green Indication. Vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown.

(b)   Steady Yellow Indication. Vehicular traffic is thereby warned that a lane control change is being made.

(c)   Steady Red Indication. Vehicular traffic shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown.

(d)   Flashing Yellow Indication. Vehicular traffic may use the lane only for the purpose of approaching and making a left turn.

(K.S.A. 8-1511)

(a)   No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.

(b)   No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any official traffic control device bearing thereon any commercial advertising, except for business signs included as part of official motorist service panels or roadside area information panels approved by the secretary of transportation.

(c)   This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.

(d)   Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the governing body is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.

(K.S.A. 8-1512)

No person, without lawful authority, shall attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia there- on, or any other part thereof.

(K.S.A. 8-1513)

The chief of police, subject to the approval of the governing body, may designate and maintain by appropriate devices, marks or lines on the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where in his/her opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway and at such other places as may be deemed necessary. The chief of police may also, subject to such approval, establish and mark safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as may be deemed necessary for the protection of pedestrians.

(K.S.A. 8-2001; K.S.A. 82006)

Ref.: Driving Through Safety Zones, see Sec. 70.

(a)   The chief of police shall have authority to declare any street or part thereof a play street and to place appropriate signs or devices in the roadway indicating and helping to protect the same.

(b)   Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating any street or part thereof as a play street, no person shall drive a vehicle upon any such street or portion thereof except drivers of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area, and then any such driver shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof.

The chief of police is hereby authorized to mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway where a regular alignment of traffic is deemed necessary.