Town of Merrimack, NH Chapter 123 Emergency Lanes

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Merrimack 5-15-1981 by Art. 24; reaffirmed by Town Council 12-3-2009; amended 12-7-2017. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 183.

§ 123-1 Determination of need.

Emergency lanes shall be established and maintained for all places of public assembly or any nonresidential structure with a gross first floor area of over 3,000 square feet or any building containing more than seven dwelling units, upon a joint determination by the Fire Chief and the Police Chief that a hazardous or potentially hazardous condition exists or may exist. Upon such joint determination, emergency lanes shall be established within any private way or private parking lot which prohibits parking at all times within 30 feet of the above-described buildings and that henceforth it shall be unlawful to park any vehicle within said emergency lanes.

§ 123-2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

FIRE CHIEF

The Chief of the Merrimack Fire Department or a named and authorized designee.

POLICE CHIEF

The Chief of the Merrimack Police Department or a named and authorized designee.

§ 123-3 Violating vehicles to be towed.

Any vehicle unlawfully parked within any emergency lane shall be towed at the owner's expense.

§ 123-4 Applicability; reduction of required widths.

These provisions shall apply to both new and existing buildings, and the width of the emergency lanes may be reduced by the Fire Chief and Police Chief in the event a lesser distance is all that is reasonably required or feasible for the provision of access by emergency vehicles.

§ 123-5 Markings and signs.

Within established emergency lanes prohibiting parking, the Fire Chief and Police Chief may require the words “No Parking - Fire Lane” to be painted and maintained by the owner on the macadam of the way or lot in standard traffic safety-size letters. In conjunction with the painting, the Police Chief and Fire Chief may require the owner to install and maintain signs reading “No Parking - Fire Lane - Tow Zone” in conspicuous places. Such markings and sign installations shall be accomplished not later than 60 days of written notification by the Police Chief and Fire Chief that they are required and the specifications which are to be followed.

§ 123-6 Violations and penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be fined not more than $100 for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.