[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Orange 2-1-1996.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 366.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A designated, unobstructed passageway sufficient in size to permit
free passage of fire and other emergency equipment from a public highway to
all necessary areas or portions of any private or public property as hereinafter
set forth.
Whenever the Fire Marshal shall determine that the reasonable safety
of persons occupying or using any premises, public or private, having a capacity
of at least 15 persons, requires the establishment of a fire lane for orderly
access of fire and other emergency equipment, the Fire Marshal shall establish
such fire lane by written order and cause a public announcement of the establishment
of such fire lane to be printed in a newspaper having substantial circulation
in the community. Further, the Fire Marshal shall cause a copy of such order
to be delivered, in person, or by registered mail, to the owner of any private
land on which such fire lane is established, or to the agent of such owner.
Whenever the Fire Marshal establishes a fire lane, he shall file a copy
of his order with the Board of Selectmen and with the Orange Police Department.
Any person aggrieved by such order may file, with the Board of Selectmen,
within 10 days after the date of the publication of such order in the newspaper,
a written notice of appeal setting forth the reasons for aggrievement. After
hearing, the Board of Selectmen may affirm, modify or rescind such order.
Any such fire lane shall be a minimum of eight feet in width, unless
otherwise specified by the Fire Marshal. Said fire lane shall be constructed
of either asphalt or other suitable hard surface capable of supporting the
weight of fire apparatus.
Upon establishment of a fire lane, the Fire Marshal shall cause to be
erected or installed, adequate signs and markings to delineate said fire lane.
Signs and markings required on a privately owned premises shall be erected
or installed by the owner of such premises who shall bear the total cost.
Failure by such owner to erect or install the required signs and markings
within 60 days from the date of such order shall cause the Fire Marshal to
direct the Orange Highway Department to erect or install the required signs
and markings at the cost to the owner of the premises, which may be billed
for and collected as a municipal fee in the same manner as municipal taxes.
A.
Signs:
(1)
Signs shall be mounted on steel posts or as approved
by the Fire Marshal and the Orange Traffic Authority.
(2)
Signs shall be installed to a height of seven feet from
the surface of pavement to the base of the sign.
(3)
Signs on posts shall face both directions of travel (mounted
back to back), or as approved by the Fire Marshal and the Traffic Authority.
(4)
Distance between signs shall be a maximum of 50 feet.
(5)
Sign lettering shall be clearly visible and shall read
as follows: "NO PARKING - FIRE LANE," or as approved by the Fire Marshal and
the Traffic Authority.
B.
Lettering and markings on fire lane surface(s):
(1)
Lettering on fire lane surfaces shall read as follows:
"NO PARKING - FIRE LANE," or as approved by the Fire Marshal and Traffic Authority.
(2)
Lettering shall be applied as to face in both directions
of travel.
(3)
Lettering shall be of sufficient size as to be readily
visible from any vehicle traveling in the fire lane.
(4)
Pavement marking lines to designate the width of the
fire lane shall be a minimum of five inches in width and shall be permanently
painted and weatherproofed.
(5)
All markings and lettering shall be painted "traffic
yellow" in color.
An on-site inspection shall be made by the Fire Marshal and the owner
of the premises, or the owner's agent, prior to the installation of said
fire lane.
Whenever the Fire Marshal establishes a fire lane on premises open to
the public, but not municipally owned, it shall thereafter be the responsibility
of the owner to properly maintain the area so designated, and to keep and
maintain it free of ice and snow and of any other material which would obstruct
the use of said fire lane.
No person shall park, or permit to stand, a motor vehicle in a fire
lane which has been established under this chapter, except when the operator
remains in the vehicle and is in the actual process of picking up or discharging
passengers. The registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be presumed to be
the operator of such vehicle.
Whenever a vehicle is found parked or standing in violation of § 215-9, a police officer, the Fire Marshal, or Fire Inspector for the town, shall serve upon the owner or operator of such vehicle, or place upon such vehicle, a $25 parking ticket. If such ticket is paid within 48 hours, no further penalty shall be incurred. If such ticket is not paid within 48 hours, the penalty shall increase to $50.
Any motor vehicle found parked or standing in a fire lane which has
been established in accordance with this chapter, may be towed upon the direction
of a police officer to any public or private parking facility, and all expenses
of such towing, and any subsequent storage, shall be borne by the registered
owner of such vehicle.
