This chapter shall be deemed and construed to be an exercise
of the police powers of the Town of Salem in the State of New Hampshire
for the preservation and protection of public safety, and all of its
provisions shall be liberally construed with a view to the effectuation
of such purposes. Any bylaws or ordinances concerning the regulations
of traffic previously enacted are hereby repealed. The traffic rules
and regulations of Salem, as amended, shall become effective upon
adoption.
Nothing in this chapter shall apply to fire apparatus or police
cars officially used in connection with any Town department or Town
business, but such vehicles shall at all times be operated and otherwise
handled in a reasonable manner under the circumstances.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CROSSWALK
That portion of a roadway 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 surface or by any other markings or sign.
FIRE LANE
That portion of a traveled way established on private property
or public property, devoted to public use, where the parking of motor
vehicles or other obstructions may interfere for the purpose of protection
of persons or property. This portion of the traveled way shall be
clearly marked on the road surface and/or by other signs.
INTERSECTION
Any meeting of one or more roadways with another, or any
meeting of one or more roadways with a railroad.
OPERATOR
Includes every individual who shall operate a vehicle, as
the owner thereof or as the agent, employee or permittee of the owner,
or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
PARK or PARKING
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, upon
a street otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually
engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or loading or unloading
merchandise or in obedience to traffic regulations, signs or signals
or an involuntary stopping of the vehicle by reason of causes beyond
the control of the operator of the vehicle.
ROADWAY
That portion of a street, exclusive of shoulders, improved
and intended to be used for vehicular traffic.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a street or roadway set aside for pedestrian
travel.
STREET
The entire width between property lines of any public street,
avenue, road, highway, alley, lane or path located in the Town of
Salem and established for the use of vehicular traffic.
VEHICLE
Any device in, upon or by which any person or property is
or may be transported upon a street, except a device which is operated
upon rails or tracks.
No operator shall park a vehicle in any of the following places,
and vehicles found parked in violation of any of the provisions of
this section may be moved by or under the direction of a police officer
of the Town of Salem to a place where parking is permitted, at the
expense of the operator:
A. General prohibited parking areas.
(1) Within 20 feet of any intersection.
(4) In front of a private driveway.
(6) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
(7) Upon any roadway unless both wheels on the right side of the vehicle
are within 12 inches of the edge of the roadway.
(8) Upon any roadway where the parking of a vehicle will not leave a
clear and unobstructed roadway sufficient to allow the passage of
one vehicle at a time.
(9) Within the limits of any fire lane, except as provided in Subsection
C(1).
(10)
Upon any roadway following the announcement of an emergency
parking ban by the Chief of Police due to severe weather conditions.
B. Specific prohibited parking areas.
(1) Each specific prohibited area shall be clearly posted with signs
that shall be a design and color to conform to standards prescribed
by the Commissioner of Transportation, State of New Hampshire, and/or
applicable statutes of the State of New Hampshire.
(2) Temporary no parking zones may be established by order of the Chief
of Police for specific events that may require directed traffic control.
Posted no parking zones may also be temporarily suspended using the
same criteria.
C. Limited no parking zones.
(1) Parking of maintenance and service vehicles for loading/unloading
materials and supplies for a maximum limit of 10 minutes shall be
permitted.
(2) Parking shall be limited within the municipally leased parking lot
at the corner of Main and Central as follows:
(a)
Along the north perimeter, abutting Main Street (eight parking
spaces), to 20 minutes.
(b)
Along the south perimeter, abutting Rockingham Park chain link
fence (10 spaces), to two hours.
(c)
The remainder of the lot (25 spaces) to two hours.
Nothing in §
466-6 shall be interpreted as prohibiting:
A. Police, fire or emergency parking.
B. Parking of commercial vehicles while loading or unloading.
C. Parking for weddings or funerals as approved by the Chief of Police.
It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for sale any candy, ice
cream or confection or any fruit, vegetable or beverage for human
consumption or any goods from any motor vehicle or any vehicle or
cart of any kind or any stand which, because of its location near
or adjacent to the street, results in vehicles stopping on the side
of the street for the purpose of conducting a transaction of business
anywhere on the following streets or sidewalks in the Town of Salem
or within 100 feet of any side street which intersects with said streets:
D. Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The operator of a vehicle shall allow pedestrians the right-of-way
crossing a street at a crosswalk.
The Police Department shall control all traffic and vehicles
on the streets of Salem. Vehicles must stop or start immediately on
signal by any police officer in uniform.
If any vehicle is found on any street or highway in violation
of any provision of this chapter and the identity of the driver cannot
be determined, the owner or the person in whose name the vehicle is
registered shall be held prima facie responsible for such violation.
Whoever violates any provisions of this chapter shall be subject
to a fine as described below:
A. Whoever violations a provision of §§
466-6,
466-7,
466-8,
466-9 and
466-10A and
B as hereafter defined shall be subject to a fine as provided in Subsection
E if paid within five days. Failure to pay within this time limit will be cause for a notice and a doubling of the fine. Failure to pay this fine within five days will result in the denial of vehicle registration renewal.
(1) Parking in a restricted area.
(2) Parking in the wrong direction.
(3) Parking more than 12 inches from the curb.
(4) Stopping or standing in a travel lane, thereby obstructing the normal
flow of traffic.
(5) All-night parking when restricted (first offense).
B. Whoever violates a provision of §§
466-6,
466-7,
466-8,
466-9 and
466-10C as hereafter defined shall be subject to a fine as provided in Subsection
E if paid within five days. Failure to pay within this time limit will be cause for a notice and a doubling of the fine. Failure to pay this fine within five days will result in the denial of vehicle registration renewal.
(1) Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
(3) Parking within 20 feet of an intersection.
(4) Parking in front of a private road or driveway.
(5) Parking within an intersection.
(6) All-night parking when restricted (second through fifth offense,
towing thereafter).
(8) Parking at other than designated times.
C. Whenever no penalty is otherwise provided for, any person who violates the Traffic Rules and Regulations of Salem, New Hampshire, shall be subject to a fine as provided in Subsection
E for each offense.
D. Anyone found illegally parked in an area reserved for the handicapped, where properly posted, shall be subject to a fine as provided in Subsection
E if paid within five days. Failure to pay within this time limit will be cause for a notice and a doubling of the fine. Failure to pay this fine within five days will result in the denial of vehicle registration renewal.
E. Fines for violation of the provisions of this chapter, as adopted
by the Board of Selectmen, are on file with the Police Department
and on the Town of Salem website. Fines shall not exceed the maximum
penalty established pursuant to RSA 31:39, III.
The section of roadway intersecting Main Street and North Main
Street, known as "Cemetery Road," shall be posted for one-way traffic,
the directional flow to be easterly from Main Street to North Main
Street.
Persons who have received a parking violation may request an
appeal with the Chief of Police within 20 days of the issuance of
the violation.