[Amended 6-15-1978]
For the purpose of this chapter the words and phrases used herein shall have the following meanings except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING Alternate side parking restrictions which are effective on a year-round, twenty-four-hour-per-day basis. Each street shall have a designated time that vehicles must be moved to the other side of the street or must depart the area. There shall be no more than a one-hour grace period in which parking will be allowed on both sides of the way.
[Added 7-20-2000]
ANGLE SPACE A parking meter space which is diagonal or perpendicular to the curb of the roadway or lot berm.
ANGLE SPACE VIOLATION The parking of a vehicle in an angle space in such a manner that the vehicle is not within the lines designating the space, or is parked at an angle to the curb different than that indicated by official marks and signs, or is facing away from the curb.
BUS STOP An area in the roadway set aside for the boarding of or alighting from and the parking of buses.
COMPRESSION RELEASE ENGINE BRAKE Any device that utilizes air compression and/or rapid release of compressed air in the cylinders of gasoline- or diesel-powered engines to slow or retard motor vehicle speed. Examples include, but are not limited to, Jacobs Engine Brakes™, also known as "Jake Brake™ Engine Retarders"; Pacbrake™ engine brakes; TecBrake™ engine brakes; and similar devices that meet the definition.
[Added 7-7-2011]
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 pedestrians crossing by lines on the road surface or by other marking or signs.
CURB MARKING, OFFICIAL That portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been authorized by the City Council, and which has the written approval of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ELECTRIC ASSIST SCOOTER A primarily human-powered or low speed electric stand-on vehicle used by an individual for transportation. Referred to as e-scooter or E-SMD.
[Added 5-2-2019 by Ord. No. 19.011]
EMERGENCY VEHICLE 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 Department.
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 ways. 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.
LANDSCAPE/FURNITURE ZONE The area of the public sidewalk along the street that is designated for landscaping or street furniture. In the CB district, this area is in the brick paver portion of the sidewalk.
[Added 5-2-2019 by Ord. No. 19.011]
LANE A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.
METER VIOLATION The parking of a vehicle in a parking meter space when the meter registers violation either as a result of expiration of time or failure to insert money. In the case of a meter, smartphone application or mobile payment system utilizing pay-by-plate technology, failure to enter the proper license plate number shall be a meter violation.
[Amended 12-5-2019 by Ord. No. 19.136]
METER SPACE VIOLATION The parking of a vehicle in a parking meter space in such a manner that the vehicle is not within the lines designating the space or is parked at an angle to the curb different than that indicated by official marks and signs, or is facing in the wrong direction.
OFFICER Any officer of the City Police Department or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for the violation of traffic regulations.
OVERTIME The parking of a vehicle in a parking meter space or in a parking time zone or parking area for longer than the maximum amount of time which is allowed in that space, zone or lot, whether or not additional money has been inserted in a meter or whether or not an additional parking pass has been purchased.
[Added 5-15-1997]
PARKING The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading, or in obedience to an officer or traffic signs or signals, or while making emergency repairs or, if disabled, while arrangements are being made to move such vehicle.
PARKING METER Any mechanical, electronic or electronic mechanical device, or smartphone application or mobile payment system, not inconsistent with the provisions of this regulation, and placed or erected or electronically available on any public way or municipal off-street street parking area within the City for the regulation of parking. In the case of a parking meter head-type device, said device install shall indicate by proper legend the legal parking time established by this regulation and when operated shall at all times indicate the balance of legal parking time permitted and at the expiration of such period shall at all times indicate illegal or meter violation parking. In the case of a meter utilizing pay-by-plate technology, when a parking receipt is dispensed or other notice transmitted, said receipt or notice shall indicate the date and time of expiration. An area in which an electronic pay-for-parking device is located shall have appropriate posted notice or signage to indicate the legal parking time established by this regulation.
[Added 5-15-1997; amended 12-5-2019 by Ord. No. 19.136]
PARKING METER SPACE Any space within a parking meter zone, which is duly designated for the parking of a single vehicle (except as noted below) by lines painted on the surface of the street or municipal off-street parking area. The City of Northampton authorizes the parking of more than one motorcycle in a single parking space and will impose a penalty on each motorcycle, for the full amount of the violation of an ordinance, bylaw, order, rule or regulation related to the parking of vehicles on ways within its control. No motorcycle shall be parked in such manner so as to inhibit the means of egress of another motorcycle currently parked in the same parking space. In no instance, shall a motorcycle be allowed to share a common space with any other vehicle other than a motorcycle in a duly designated parking meter space.
[Added 9-6-2001]
PARKING METER ZONE Includes any street or portion thereof or municipal off-street parking area upon which parking meters are installed and in operation and upon which parking of vehicles is permitted for a limited time subject to compliance with the further provisions of this regulation.
PEDESTRIAN Any person afoot or riding on a conveyance moved by human muscular power, except bicycles or tricycles, as defined in Chapter 90, § 18A of the General Laws.
PERSON Includes any individual, firm copartnership, association or corporation.
PROHIBITED ZONE Any area or portion of the roadway of a street or highway or any alley where a notice of the prohibition of parking is provided by sign, marking or other appropriate designation; or any area within a municipal parking lot, other than a marked or designated parking space.
[Added 12-18-1997]
ROADWAY That portion of a street or highway 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, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SERVICE ZONE An area in the roadway set aside for the accommodation of commercial and transient vehicular traffic.
SHARED MOBILITY DEVICE (SMD) A human-powered or low speed electric vehicle for public shared use to individuals on a short-term basis and may include bicycles, scooters, Segways or similar devices.
[Added 5-2-2019 by Ord. No. 19.011]
SHARED MOBILITY DEVICE (SMD) PROGRAM A service in which SMDs are made available for public, shared-use to individuals on a short-term basis for a price or free. Services can be provided either to/from a specified dock or station location or may be dockless or free-floating.
[Added 5-2-2019 by Ord. No. 19.011]
STREET or HIGHWAY The entire width between property lines of every way open to the use of the public for purposes of travel.
STREET MARKING, OFFICIAL Any painted line, legend, marking or marker of any description painted or placed upon any way which purports to direct or regulate traffic and which has been authorized by the City Council and which has the written approval of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
TAXICAB STANDS An area in the roadway in which certain taxicabs are authorized and required to park while waiting to be engaged.
TRAFFIC Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars or other conveyances either singly or together while using any street or highway for the purpose of travel.
TRAFFIC CONTROL AREA Any area along any way, other than an intersecting 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 of Massachusetts, 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.
TRAFFIC SIGNS, OFFICIAL All signs, markings and devices, other than signals, not inconsistent with these rules and orders, and which conform to the standards prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning, or regulating traffic.
TRAFFIC SIGNALS, OFFICIAL All signals, conforming to the standards as prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, not inconsistent with these rules and orders, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of directing or warning traffic.
U-TURN The turning of a vehicle by means of a continuous 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.
VEHICLE, COMMERCIAL Any vehicle being used in the transportation of goods, wares or merchandise for commercial purposes.
No person shall operate or park a vehicle on any street or highway for the sole purpose of displaying advertising signs, without a permit from the Mayor.