[Ord. No. 26, § 2]
Traffic-control signals, capable of being operated electrically or manually, and with a pedestrian control of the standard types and designs as the individual location may require, prescribed by the department of public works of the commonwealth in conformity with section 8 of chapter 89 of the General Laws, shall be installed, maintained and operated in accordance with permits issued by such department and as provided by this chapter at such places as the city council may, by order, determine, and may be removed by order of the city council.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2]
All traffic control signals shall be in operation upon such days and during such periods as the city council shall, by order, determine; provided, that no order of the council shall in any way contravene the provisions of any traffic signal permit issued by the state department of public works.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2]
Pedestrian periods shall be shown only on such traffic control signals and during such hours as shall be authorized and set out in permits duly issued by the state department of public works.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2; Ord. No. 44, § 1]
In an impending or existing emergency the city council may suspend the operation of any provision of this chapter and make such rules as may be required for the immediate safety and convenience of the public. Such rules shall be effective only during such times as an emergency exists or is impending. In addition thereto, the city council at any time, may, by order, make such temporary experimental rules regulating traffic, or test, under actual conditions, such traffic signs, markings or other devices as may be required for the safety and convenience of the public. No such emergency or experimental rule regulating traffic, or test, shall remain in effect for a period of more than 60 days; except, that this period of time may be further extended by the city council.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2]
No provision of this chapter for which signs are required shall be enforceable against an alleged violator, if at the time and place of the alleged violation the sign required by this chapter is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinary observant person. Whenever a particular section or subsection of this chapter does not state that signs are required, such section or subsection shall be effective without signs being erected to give notice thereof.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2]
Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 13-38, it shall be unlawful for any operator of a vehicle to disobey the command of any lawful traffic regulating sign, device or signal, or to refuse or fail to comply with any lawful order, signal or direction given by a police officer under the terms of or in conformity with the provisions of this chapter notwithstanding any traffic sign or signal then displayed in accordance with this chapter.
In no case shall an operator of a vehicle enter or proceed through an intersection without due regard to the safety of other persons within the intersection regardless of what indications may be given by traffic control signals.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2]
It shall be unlawful for any person to place or maintain or to display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal or device which purports to be, or is an imitation of, or resembles an official traffic sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view any official traffic sign or signal.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2; Ord. No. 678, § 1, 6-13-1991]
It shall be unlawful for any person willfully to deface, injure, move, obstruct, interfere with, destroy or steal any official traffic sign, signal, device or marking, or any street sign.
Any person who violates this section shall be fined as follows:
First offense
$100
Second offense
$250
Third offense
$1,000
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 29, passed 8-11-1967, repealed § 13-28.
[Ord. No. 26, § 2; Ord. No. 367, § 1, 4-10-1980]
(a) 
Green. While the green lens is illuminated, operators of vehicles facing the signal may proceed through the intersection, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time such signal was exhibited. Operators of vehicles marking a right or left turn shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the flow of traffic.
(b) 
Right, left and vertical green arrows. When a right green arrow is illuminated, operators of vehicles facing such signal may turn right. When a left green arrow is illuminated, operators of vehicles facing such signal may turn left. When a vertical green arrow is illuminated, operators of vehicles facing such signal may go straight ahead. When a green arrow is exhibited together with a red or yellow lens, operators of vehicles may enter the intersection to make the movement permitted by the arrow, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles and pedestrians proceeding from another direction on a green indication.
(c) 
Yellow. While the yellow lens is illuminated, waiting operators of vehicles shall not proceed, and any operator of a vehicle approaching the intersection or a marked stop line shall stop at such point unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; provided, however, that if a green arrow is illuminated at the same time, operators of vehicles may enter the intersection to make the movement permitted by such arrow.
(d) 
Red.
(1) 
Traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; or, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as allowed by Chapter 89, Section 8 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended.
(2) 
No driver of a vehicle facing a circular red signal indication shall make a right turn where official traffic signs are installed and maintained prohibiting such turn at that intersection.
(3) 
The city council may, by order, determine and designate at what places and facing in which direction official signs shall be erected.
(e) 
Red and yellow. While the red and yellow lenses are illuminated together, operators of vehicles shall not enter the intersections and during such time the intersections shall be reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians.
(f) 
Flashing red. A flashing red lens shall indicate those intersections at which operators of vehicles are required by law, or provision having the force of law, to stop before entering.
(g) 
Flashing yellow. A flashing yellow lens shall indicate the presence of a hazard and operators of vehicles may proceed only with caution.
(h) 
Flashing green. A flashing green lens shall indicate an intersection or crosswalk in use or subject to use by entering or crossing traffic. Operators of vehicles may proceed only with caution and shall be prepared to comply with a change in the signal to a red and yellow indication.
[1]
Editor's Note: For purposes of greater clarity, the following words should be read as an introductory phrase to this section, "Colors and arrow indications in traffic-control signals shall have the commands respectively ascribed to them in this section."