No provision of this chapter for which signs
are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at
the time and place of the alleged violation, an official sign is not
in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily
observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that
signs are required, such section shall be effective without signs
being erected to give notice thereof.
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, and no person shall place or maintain any
traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
This 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.
B.
Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby
declared to be a public nuisance, and the authority having jurisdiction
over the highway is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it
to be removed without notice.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating
that no right or left turn or U-turn is permitted, no driver of a
vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign; and when authorized
marks, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection
indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning thereat,
no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of such indications.
[Amended 9-16-2002; 9-2-2003]
Purpose. The Saco City Council finds that excessive
sound on public ways may cause distraction to other drivers and preclude
the safe operation of motor vehicles to the detriment of the general
public. Furthermore, the making, creation or maintenance of loud,
unnecessary, excessive, annoying, distracting or unnatural sound is
an unreasonable infringement upon the public health, comfort, convenience,
safety, welfare and prosperity of the residents of the City. Accordingly,
it is the policy of the City of Saco to prohibit the aforementioned
types of sound on public ways within the City.
A.
No person, while occupying any public way in the City,
shall operate any sound-creating device in such a manner that the
sound is greater than is reasonable with due regard to the location
of the device, the time of day, or the effect on persons in proximity
to the device.
B.
The prohibitions of this section shall include, but
not be limited to, the following activities or conduct:
(1)
Sounding a horn, bell, whistle or other device in
a manner that is unreasonable or unnecessary.
(2)
Rapid throttle advance and/or revving of an internal
combustion engine resulting in a harsh or objectionable sound from
the engine.
(3)
The use or operation of any engine brake, compression
brake, or mechanical exhaust device, unless necessary to stop a vehicle
in an emergency. This provision shall not apply to public safety vehicles.
C.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating a
“quiet zone,” no person operating a motor vehicle within
any such zone shall sound the horn or other warning device of the
vehicle, except in an emergency.
D.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to
the following activities or conduct:
(1)
Expression or communication protected by the United
States Constitution, including the first amendment, or the Maine Constitution.
(2)
Any activity or conduct the regulation of which has
been preempted by Maine statute.
(3)
Any sound created by a governmental entity in the
performance of an official duty.
(4)
Any sound for which a permit has been issued by an
authority having jurisdiction to issue the permit.
(5)
The sounding of any signaling device permitted by
law.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating
any street or part thereof is 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 said driver shall exercise the greatest care in
driving upon any said street or portion thereof.
Whenever traffic is controlled by a school crossing
stop sign exhibiting the word "stop," vehicular traffic facing the
sign shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk or at such other
point as may be indicated by a clearly visible line and shall then
proceed with due caution, having regard to the safety of the pedestrians
crossing at that point. The Police Chief shall designate the time
of placing such signs and the location thereof.
When authorized signs prohibiting parking are
erected on narrow streets, no person shall park a vehicle in any such
designated place.
When authorized signs are erected upon approach
to hazardous or congested places, no person shall stop, stand or park
a vehicle in any such designated place.
When authorized signs are erected indicating
no parking upon that side of the street adjacent to any school property,
no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.
The provisions set forth below shall apply during
snow emergencies declared by the Public Works Director or his/her
designated representative:
A.
The Director of Public Works may declare that a snow
emergency exists any time during the calendar year. The snow emergency
shall be announced by notifying local radio and television media and
by notifying other Public Safety Departments of the City. The announcement
shall include the duration of the parking ban and that parking is
prohibited on any public way until the parking ban is lifted.
B.
The Public Works Director shall also have the discretion
to declare long-term parking bans if snow accumulation or public safety
issues warrant emergency action in order to allow for the efficient
removal of snow and ice.
C.
No vehicle shall be parked at any time during a declared
snow emergency so as to interfere with or hinder the removal of snow
from said public street or way. Any person restricting the City snow
plowing, loading and hauling operation or any person parking a vehicle
in violation of a "no parking" sign placed on any street or way by
the Public Works Department shall be subject to a fine under general
penalties.[1] Notwithstanding the imposition of such a fine, the police officer issuing the citation may also cause any vehicle so parked to be removed from the street in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Towing, of this chapter.
A.
The driver of any urban or interurban bus shall not
stand or park in any business district at any place other than at
a bus stop, except that this provision shall not prevent the driver
of any such bus from temporarily stopping in accordance with other
stopping or parking regulations at any place designated for the purpose
of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers.
B.
The driver of any other bus except those described in Subsection A shall not stop or stand upon any street in any business district.
C.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle other
than a bus in a bus stop when any such stop has been officially designated
and appropriately signed, except that the driver of a passenger vehicle
may temporarily stop therein for the purpose of and while actually
engaged in loading or unloading passengers when such stopping does
not interfere with any bus waiting to enter or about to enter such
zone.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a
roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in
the direction of traffic and with the curbside wheels of the vehicle
within 12 inches of the edge of the roadway, except upon those streets
which have been marked or signed for angle parking, in which event
vehicles shall be parked at the angle to the curb indicated by such
mark or signs.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon
any public roadway or right-of-way for the principal purpose of:
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle
for any purpose or period of time other than for the expeditious loading
or unloading of passengers in any place marked as a passenger zone
during the hours when the regulations applicable to such passenger
zones are effective, and then only for a period not to exceed 15 minutes.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle
in any of the following places, nor shall any person move a vehicle
not owned by him into any of these places, except when necessary to
avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions
of a police officer, other authorized person or traffic control device:
A.
On a sidewalk.
B.
In front of or within 10 feet of the intersection
of the side lines of a public or private driveway with the nearest
roadway edge of pavement.
C.
Within an intersection.
D.
Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
E.
On a crosswalk or within 10 feet of any crosswalk,
including unmarked crosswalks, except on the approach to a signalized
intersection, where the distance shall be within 30 feet of any crosswalk,
including unmarked crosswalks.
F.
Within 20 feet of the nearest corner of the curbs
at an intersection.
G.
Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon,
stop sign or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.
H.
Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within
30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety
zone, unless the Traffic Committee indicates a different length by
signs or markings.
I.
Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire
station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire
station within 75 feet of the entrance when properly signposted.
J.
Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction
when such stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
K.
On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked
at the edge or curb of a street, or, double park, so called.
L.
Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a
highway.
M.
At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
N.
In front of a place of business or in a parking space
within an off-street parking lot operated by the City of Saco for
longer than two hours between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,
except for Sundays and holidays, unless a more restricted regulation
is provided elsewhere in this chapter for such location.
O.
In a parking space clearly marked as a handicapped
parking space and that does not bear a special registration plate
or placard issued under Title 29-A, § 521 or 523, or a similar
plate issued by another state. "Clearly marked" includes painted
signs on pavement and vertical standing signs that are visible in
existing weather conditions. The Police Department shall have the
authority to enforce this provision in publicly maintained areas as
well as private off-street parking areas.
[Added 5-3-2004]
It shall be unlawful and a violation of the
provisions of this chapter for any person to cause an obstruction
to traffic by reason of inability to move a vehicle being operated
by him because of snow or ice accumulation in a street when such vehicle
has not been equipped with either snow-tread tires or tire chains.
Upon recommendation of the Chief of Police,
the City Administrator is authorized to appoint Parking Control Officers,
who shall have the same powers in the enforcement of parking regulations
as are vested in members of the Police Department of the City and
who may order into court any violator of parking regulations. Such
Parking Control Officers shall not be considered members of the Police
Department of the City except for administrative purposes.
The stopping, standing and/or parking of motor
vehicles and movement of traffic are hereby regulated on the streets
or parts of streets and ways and on publicly owned property on a traffic
schedule established by the Traffic Safety Committee in public session,
and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, the stopping, standing
and/or parking of motor vehicles and movement of traffic shall be
regulated as set forth on said schedule for such streets or parts
of streets and ways and on such publicly owned property. Notwithstanding
the above, either member of the Council serving on the Traffic Safety
Committee may require any action taken under this section to be reviewed
and approved by the Council as a whole.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed
as prohibiting the City from providing for free parking space for
loading and unloading, for taxicabs, for bus stops and for other purposes
of similar nature.
Any vehicle of any kind or description parked
upon a public street of the City at a place, in a manner or for a
length of time prohibited by ordinance is hereby declared to be an
obstruction in such street and a menace to the safe and proper regulation
of traffic.
No person shall allow, permit or suffer any
vehicle registered in his/her name to stand or park in any street,
way, highway, road or parkway under the control of the City in violation
of any provision of this chapter or any ordinance of the City. The
fact that a vehicle is unlawfully parked shall be prima facie evidence
of the unlawful parking of such vehicle by the person in whose name
such vehicle is registered.
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control
signals exhibiting the words "go," "caution" or "stop" or exhibiting
different colored lights successively, the following colors only shall
be used, and terms and lights shall indicate as follows:
A.
Green alone or "go" shall mean vehicular traffic facing
the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless
a sign at such place prohibits either such turn; but, vehicular traffic
shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians
lawfully within the intersection at the time such signal is exhibited.
B.
Red alone or "stop" shall mean vehicular traffic facing
the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an
intersection or at such other points as may be indicated by a clearly
visible line and shall remain standing until green or "go" is shown
alone.
C.
Red with green arrow shall mean vehicular traffic
facing such signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to make
the movement indicated by such arrow but shall not interfere with
other traffic.
Whenever flashing red or yellow signals are
used, they shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
A.
Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated
by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before
entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line
when marked, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rule
applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
B.
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.
No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked
crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the
intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he/she is operating
without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians,
notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.
No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the
vehicles comprising a funeral or other authorized procession while
they are in motion and when such vehicles are conspicuously designated
as required in this chapter. This provision shall not apply at intersections
where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or police officers
or other authorized persons.
[Amended 1-4-2021]
No procession or parade containing 20 or more
persons or five or more vehicles, excepting the forces of the uniformed
armed services of the United States, the military forces of this state
and the forces of the Police and Fire Departments, shall occupy, march
or proceed along any street except in accordance with a permit issued
by the Chief of Police and such other regulations as are set forth
herein which may apply, except that nothing herein shall restrict
through traffic traveling in convoy, provided that all traffic laws
are obeyed.
A.
A funeral composed of a procession of vehicles shall
be identified as such by the display upon the outside of each vehicle
of a pennant of a type designated by the Police Chief or displaying
head- and taillights.
B.
Each driver in a funeral or other procession shall
drive as near to the right-hand edge of the roadway as practicable
and follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practicable and safe.
The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street in a business district and shall not upon any other street so turn a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic and provided that said turn is not in conflict with posting duly erected under § 211-6.
No person shall drive a vehicle out from the
curb on any street without first looking to see that he/she shall
not pull directly into the path of an approaching vehicle nor without
giving a signal by hand and/or turn signal indicating that he/she
is about to drive out from curb.
The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same
into an intersection or over a crosswalk and shall not in any event
or at any place back a vehicle unless such movement can be made in
safety.
Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with multiple-beam
road lighting equipment, during the time when lighted lamps are required,
is being operated on any street, way, highway, road or parkway or
portion thereof under the control of the City, which is sufficiently
lighted to reveal a person on the road at a distance of 200 feet ahead
of the vehicle, the driver thereof shall dim the headlights or tilt
the beams downward so that the glaring rays therefrom are not projected
into the eyes of drivers of oncoming vehicles.
The driver of a vehicle emerging from a private
driveway, automobile service station or building shall stop such vehicle
immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk and, upon entering the
roadway, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching
on the roadway.
The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within
any sidewalk area except at a permanent or temporary driveway.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 211-37,
Clinging to moving vehicles, was repealed 5-3-2004.
The operator of a motorcycle, when upon a street,
shall not carry any other person upon the handlebars, frame or tank
of any such vehicle, nor shall any person so ride upon any such vehicle.
The driver of any vehicle other than a City
emergency vehicle shall not follow closer than 500 feet to any fire
apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm or drive into or park
such vehicle within the block where fire apparatus has stopped in
answer to a fire alarm.
No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected
hose of the Fire Department, when laid down on any street or private
driveway to be used at any fire or alarm of fire, without the consent
of the Fire Department official in command.
No vehicle shall at any time be driven through
or within a safety zone.
The driver of any vehicle which collides with
any vehicle which is unattended shall immediately stop and shall then
and there either locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle
of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking
the unattended vehicle or shall leave in a conspicuous place in the
vehicle struck a written notice giving the name and address of the
driver and of the owner of the vehicle doing the striking.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident
resulting only in damage to fixtures legally upon or adjacent to a
highway shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner
or person in charge of such property of such fact and of his/her name
and address and of the registration number of the vehicle he/she is
driving and shall, upon request and if available, exhibit his/her
operator's or chauffeur's license and shall make report of such accident
when and as required in 29 M.R.S.A. § 891.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said section was repealed by
Chapter 683 of the Laws of 1993. See now 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2251.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident
resulting in injury to or death of any person or property damage to
the estimated amount of $200 or more only shall, within 24 hours after
such accident, forward a written report of such accident to the Police
Department, which report may be a copy of the accident report required
to be filed with the State Police under the laws of this state. The
Police Department may require any driver of a vehicle involved in
an accident of which report must be made as provided in this section
to file supplemental reports whenever the original report is insufficient
in the opinion of the Department and may require witnesses of accidents
to render reports to said Department.
Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically
incapable of making a required accident report and there was another
occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of making
a report, such occupant may make or cause to be made said report.
