It shall be the duty of the police department to enforce the provisions of these rules and orders. Officers of the Police Department are hereby authorized to direct all traffic in person or by means of visible or audible signal in conformance with the provisions of these rules and orders, provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police or Fire Department may direct traffic, as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of these rules and orders.
[Amended 11-12-2019 STM, Art. 13]
The police may close temporarily any street or highway in an impending or existing emergency, or for any lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession provided there is reasonable justification for the closing of such street.
[Amended 11-12-2019 STM, Art. 13]
The police may prohibit, temporarily, parking on any street or highway or part thereof in an impending or existing emergency, or for a lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession provided there is reasonable justifications for such prohibition.
Drivers of vehicles shall comply with any lawful or reasonable order, signal or direction of any officer.
Police are to keep and use an accident record file.
A. 
The police shall maintain a suitable system of filing traffic accident reports. Accident reports or cards referring to them shall be filed alphabetically by location.
B. 
As the accidents at any particular location become more numerous, the police shall study such accidents and inform the Selectmen of their findings and conclusions.
The police shall submit a traffic safety report annually in the month of January to the Selectmen covering:
A. 
The number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed or injured and other pertinent traffic accident data.
B. 
The number of traffic accidents investigated, the number of hazardous locations studied, and other pertinent data on the safety activities of the police.
[Amended 11-12-2019 STM, Art. 13]
C. 
The plans and recommendations for future traffic safety activities.
The provisions of these rules and orders shall not apply to operators actually engaged in work upon a street or highway closed to travel or under construction or repair, to officers when engaged in the performance of public duties nor to drivers or 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 these rules and orders. These exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.