[Amended 7-16-1968]
For the purposes of this chapter, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to
them by this section:
BUS STOP
An area in the roadway set aside for the boarding of or alighting
from and the parking of busses.
CROSSWALK
That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the
prolongation or connection of curblines and property lines at intersections,
or at any portion of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing
by lines on the road surfaces or by other markings or signs.
EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Vehicles of the Fire Department, fire patrol, police vehicles,
ambulances and emergency vehicles of federal, state and municipal
departments or public service corporations when the latter are responding
to an emergency in relation to the Police or Fire Departments.
FUNERAL
Any procession of mourners, properly identified as such,
accompanying the remains of a human body.
INTERSECTION
The area embraced within the extensions of the lateral curblines,
or if none, then the lateral boundary lines, of intersecting ways
as defined in MGL c. 90, § 1, including divided highways.
The rules and regulations herein contained governing and restricting
the movement of vehicles at and near intersecting ways shall apply
at any place along any way at which drivers are to be controlled by
traffic control signals whether or not such place is an "intersection"
as herein defined.
LANE
A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient
width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.
OFFICER
Any officer, any constable or special officer, provided that
he or she has his or her badge of office displayed over his or her
left breast and upon his or her outer garment.
[Amended 6-3-2014 by Ord.
No. 100-2014]
OFFICIAL CURB MARKING
That portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been
authorized by the Chief of Police and which complies with the standards
of the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth and has the
written approval of that Department.
OFFICIAL STREET MARKING
Any painted line, marking or marker placed in or upon any
way and which complies with the standards of the Department of Public
Works and has the written approval of that Department.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNALS
All signals, conforming to the standards as prescribed by
the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth, not inconsistent
with this chapter, placed or erected by authority of a public body
or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of directing or warning
traffic.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNS
All signs, markings and devices, other than signals, not
inconsistent with this chapter, and which conform to the standards
prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth and
placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having
jurisdiction, for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning or regulating
traffic.
PARKING
The stopping or standing of a vehicle occupied or not, otherwise
than temporarily, except that a vehicle shall not be deemed parked
when stopped or standing for the purpose of or while actually engaged
in loading or unloading or in obedience to an officer or traffic-control
signs or signals or while making emergency repairs or if disabled
while arrangements are being made to move such vehicle.
PEDESTRIAN
Any person afoot or riding on a conveyance moved by human
power, except bicycles or tricycles.
ROADWAY
That portion of a street between the regularly established
curblines or that part, exclusive of shoulders, improved and intended
to be used for vehicular traffic.
ROTARY TRAFFIC
The counterclockwise operation of a vehicle around an object
or structure.
SAFETY ZONE
Any area or space set aside within a roadway for the exclusive
use of pedestrians and which has been indicated by signs, lines or
markings, having the written approval of the Department of Public
Works of the commonwealth.
SERVICE ZONE
An area in the roadway set aside for the accommodation of
commercial and transient vehicular traffic.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a street or highway set aside for pedestrian
travel.
STREET or HIGHWAY
The entire width between property lines of every way open
to the use of the public for purposes of travel.
TAXICAB STANDS
An area in the roadway in which certain taxicabs are required
to park while waiting to be engaged.
TRAFFIC
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars
or other conveyances either single or together while using any street
for the purpose of travel.
TRAFFIC CONTROL AREA
Any area along any way, other than an intersection way, at
which drivers are to be controlled by traffic control signals.
TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL
Any device using colored lights which conforms to the standards
as prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth,
whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which
traffic may be alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
TRAFFIC ISLAND
Any area or space set aside, within a roadway, which is not
intended for use by vehicular traffic.
U-TURN
The turning of a vehicle by means of a continuous left turn
whereby the direction of such vehicle is reversed.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, including bicycles
when the provisions of these rules are applicable to them, except
other devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary
rails or tracks and devices which derive their power for operation
from stationary overhead wires.
[Amended 9-17-1957; 2-2-1982 by Ord. No. 30-82]
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
to operators actually engaged in work upon a street closed to travel
or under construction or repair, to officers when engaged in the performance
of public duties nor to drivers of emergency vehicles while operating
in an emergency and in performance of public duties when the nature
of the work of any of these necessitates a departure from any part
of this chapter. These exemptions shall not, however, protect the
driver of any vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard
of the safety of others.
For periods of trial, the City Council may make
temporary rules regulating traffic, or post under actual conditions,
traffic signs, markers or other devices other than signals. Any such
experimental rule regulating traffic shall remain in effect for a
period of time not longer than 90 days, and such temporary rules shall
be enforced and any signs or signals required thereunder shall be
placed and maintained by the Department of Public Works.
The Chief of Police may designate those streets
or parts of streets which may be used for coasting. On those days
when conditions are suitable for coasting, vehicular traffic is hereby
prohibited from using such streets, during such times as official
signs are erected indicating that such streets or parts of streets
are reserved for coasting. The foregoing provision shall not apply
to drivers of vehicles having business within such reserved areas
or to drivers of vehicles whose residences are within such reserved
areas.
[Amended 2-2-1982 by Ord. No. 30-82]
All of the territory within 200 feet of the
premises of each hospital in the City is created and established as
a zone of quiet. The Commissioner of Public Works is authorized to
erect and maintain in a conspicuous manner within such area such signs
and markings as are necessary to designate it as a zone of quiet.
[Amended 2-4-1975 by Ord. No. 20-75; 2-2-1982 by Ord. No. 30-82]
The Chief of Police may temporarily establish
a zone of quiet upon any street where a person is seriously ill, if
requested to do so by the written statement of one registered physician
certifying to its necessity. Such temporary zone of quiet shall embrace
all territory within a radius of 200 feet of the building occupied
by the person named in the request of such physician. Such temporary
zones of quiet shall be designated by the Public Works Department
by placing at a conspicuous place in the street a sign or marker bearing
the words "zone of quiet."
No person operating a motor vehicle within any
designated and signed zone of quiet shall sound the horn or other
warning device of such vehicle except in an emergency.
[Amended 3-2-1971 by Ord. No. 84-71; 7-17-1990 by Ord. No. 286-90]
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident
resulting in the injury or death of any person or in which there is
damage in excess of $1,000 to any one vehicle or other property shall
report such accident within five days to the Registrar and to the
Police Department in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 26.
No person shall operate or park a vehicle on
any street for the sole purpose of displaying advertising signs.
No person shall drive or cause to be driven
any automobile or motor vehicle in the avenue of any public burial
grounds or cemetery, except in compliance with the rules and regulations
prescribed by the trustees of the public burial grounds.
[Amended 3-2-1971 by Ord. No. 84-71; 7-17-1990 by Ord. No. 286-90; 5-17-2005 by Ord. No.
101-05; 4-15-2014 by Ord. No. 075-2014]
Any person violating any provision of any rule,
regulation or order regulating the parking of motor vehicles made
by anybody authorized to make the same shall be punished as provided
in MGL c. 90, § 20A 1/2, and any person violating any of
the rules and regulations applicable to state highways made by the
Department of Public Works of the commonwealth, as provided under
MGL c. 85, § 2, shall be subject to the penalty provided
in such rules and regulations; any person convicted of a violation
of any other provisions of this chapter or orders made hereunder,
except as may be otherwise provided by statute, shall be punished
by a fine of $55 for each offense.