[Amended 5-30-1972; 7-11-2000]
For the purposes of this chapter the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed them by this section:
An area in the roadway set aside for the boarding of or alighting
from and the parking of buses.
The Committee on Police and License.
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 pedestrian crossing
by lines on the road surface or by other markings or signs.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation.[1]
Vehicles of the Fire Department, 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.
Any procession of mourners properly identified as such accompanying
the remains of a human body.
The area embraced within the extension of the lateral curblines
or, if none, the lateral boundary lines of intersecting ways as defined
in MGL c. 90, § 1, including divided ways.
A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient
width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.
That area of a roadway reserved for pedestrian crossing located
between two solid white reflectorized twelve-inch pavement markings
in rural areas or markings not less than six inches wide in urban
areas, such markings or lines being no less than six feet apart.
Any space within a parking meter zone which is duly designated
for the parking of a single vehicle by lines painted on the surface
of the street or facility.
[Amended 12-13-2011]
Any officer, any investigator, examiner or inspector of the
Registry of Motor Vehicles, any constable or special officer, provided
that the officer has the badge of office displayed over his/her left
breast and upon his/her outer garment.
That portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been
authorized by the Municipal Council and which conforms to the standards
prescribed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
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 Municipal Council and
which conforms to the standards prescribed by the Massachusetts Department
of Transportation.
All signals conforming to the standards prescribed by the
Massachusetts Department of Transportation, not inconsistent with
this chapter, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official
having jurisdiction, for the purpose of directing or warning traffic.
All signs, markings and devices, other than signals, not
inconsistent with this chapter, and which conform to the standards
prescribed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, placed
or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction,
for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning or regulating traffic.
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.
An electronic parking control payment system used in lieu
of parking meters, covering multiple parking spaces. Upon payment,
a parking kiosk shall issue a printed parking receipt indicating the
date of issuance and expiration time of the interval of authorized
parking at which time the payee may no longer remain lawfully parked
within the parking meter zone. The parking receipt shall authorize
parking for the full period of time for which parking is lawfully
permitted in any parking meter zone or for an appropriate fractional
period of time.
[Added 12-13-2011]
Any mechanical or electronic device, not inconsistent with
the provisions of this chapter, placed or erected on any public way
within the City for the regulation of parking. Each parking meter
installed shall indicate by proper legend the legal parking time established
by this chapter and when operated shall at all times indicate the
balance of legal parking time permitted and at the expiration of such
period shall indicate illegal or overtime parking.
[Amended 12-13-2011]
Any street, portion thereof or off-street municipal facility
upon which parking meters/kiosks 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 chapter.
[Amended 12-13-2011]
Any person afoot or riding on a conveyance moved by human
power, except bicycles or tricycles.
Any intersection of ways with a railroad right-of-way.
A portion of a way or street (or entire street or way) within
the City which has been designated as open only to certain types of
vehicles.
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.
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, which conforms to the standards prescribed by the Massachusetts
Department of Transportation.
An area in the roadway set aside for the accommodation of
commercial and transient vehicular traffic.
That portion of a street or highway set aside for pedestrian
travel.
The entire width between property lines of every way open
to the use of the public for purposes of travel.
An area in the roadway in which certain taxicabs are required
to park while waiting to be engaged.
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles or other
conveyances, either single or together, while using any street or
highway for the purpose of travel.
Any area along any way, other than an intersecting way, at
which drivers are to be controlled by traffic control signals.
Any device using colored lights which conforms to the standards
as prescribed by the Department of Transportation of the commonwealth,
whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which
traffic may be alternately directed to stop and to proceed.[2]
Any area or space set aside, within a roadway, which is not
intended for use by vehicular traffic.
The turning of a vehicle by means of continuous left turn
whereby the direction of such vehicle is reversed.
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.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
It shall be the duty of officers designated by the Chief of
Police to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Such officers are
authorized to direct all traffic either in person or by means of visible
or audible signals in conformance with the provisions of this chapter,
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 this chapter.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
The provisions of this chapter 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 or to drivers of 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 this chapter. These exemptions shall not, however, protect the
driver of any vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard
of the safety of others.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
If any vehicle is found upon 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 such vehicle
is registered shall be held prima facie responsible for such violation.
[Amended 5-30-1972; 7-11-2000]
For purposes of trial, the Municipal Council may make temporary
ordinances regulating traffic or test under actual conditions traffic
signs, signals, markings or other devices. No such experimental ordinance
regulating traffic shall remain in effect for a period of time longer
than 30 days, and such temporary ordinances before becoming effective
shall be approved in conformance with the standards prescribed by
the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
The Chief of Police is authorized to close temporarily any street
or highway in an impending or existing emergency or for any lawful
assemblage, demonstration or procession, provided that there is reasonable
justification for the closing of such street.
[Amended 5-30-1972; 11-28-1978]
A.
The Chief of Police is authorized to prohibit temporarily the parking
on any street or highway or any part thereof in an impending or existing
emergency or for a lawful assemblage, demonstration, or procession,
provided that there is, in the opinion of the Chief of Police, reasonable
justification for such action. Vehicles parked in places where parking
has been temporarily prohibited may be moved or towed under the direction
of a police officer. In addition, the Chief of Police is authorized
to temporarily prohibit or alter the direction of traffic of motor
vehicles on any street or highway or part thereof if there is an impending
or existing emergency requiring, in the opinion of the Chief of Police,
such action.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
A.
All of the territory within 200 feet of the premises of each hospital
in this City is hereby created and established as a zone of quiet.
The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to erect and maintain in
a conspicuous manner within this area such signs and markings as are
necessary to designate it as a zone of quiet.
B.
The Chief of Police may temporarily establish a zone of quiet upon
any street where a person is seriously ill, if requested to do so
by the written statement of one registered physician certifying to
its necessity. Such temporary zone of quiet shall embrace all territory
within a radius of 200 feet of the building occupied by the person
named in the request of such physician. Such temporary zone of quiet
shall be designated by the police by placing at a conspicuous place
in the street a sign or marker bearing the words "Zone of Quiet."
C.
No person operating a motor vehicle within any designated zone of
quiet shall sound the horn or other warning device except in an emergency.
[Amended 5-30-1972; 7-11-2000]
The Committee may designate school zones at and near school
buildings and cause to be erected and maintained on the ways approaching
thereto official signs easily visible to and warning drivers of vehicles
of their approach to a school zone which shall be effective during
the school year. All persons driving or in charge of a vehicle, when
approaching a school zone while such signs are maintained, where pedestrians
are crossing or waiting to cross a public way, shall slow down and
stop if necessary to prevent injury to persons.
[Added 12-19-2000]
A.
All vehicles driving on the roadways and property within the boundaries
of the Chamberlain and Friedman Schools shall not exceed the speed
of 10 miles per hour and shall slow down and stop whenever necessary
to allow pedestrians to cross said ways. Signs shall be posted on
said property indicating the speed, which shall not exceed 10 miles
per hour.
B.
Violation of the above provisions shall be punishable in accordance
with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 20.
[Amended 3-21-1978]
A.
All vehicles driving on the roadways and property within the boundaries
of the Taunton High School shall not exceed the speed of 20 miles
per hour and shall slow down and stop whenever necessary to allow
pedestrians to cross said ways. Signs shall be posted on said property
indicating the speed which shall not exceed 20 miles per hour.
B.
Violation of the above provisions shall be punishable in accordance
with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 20.
[Amended 7-18-1978]
[Amended 5-30-1972]
No person traveling upon a bicycle, motorcycle, coaster, sled,
roller skates or any toy vehicle shall cling to or attach himself/herself
or his/her vehicle to any other moving vehicle upon any roadway, nor
shall he/she ride upon any moving vehicle without the consent of the
person in charge thereof.
[Amended 5-30-1972; 7-11-2000]
A funeral composed entirely or partly of a procession of vehicles
shall be identified as such by means of pennants attached to both
the first and the last vehicles, and all vehicles in such procession
shall have their headlamps on.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
A.
It shall be the duty of each driver in a funeral or other procession
to keep as near to the right edge of the roadway as is feasible and
to follow the vehicle ahead as closely as is practicable and safe.
B.
At an intersection where a traffic control signal is operating the
driver of the first vehicle in a funeral or other procession shall
be the only one required to stop for a red or red and yellow indication.
C.
At an intersection where a lawful stop sign exists, the driver of
the first vehicle in a funeral or other procession shall be the only
one required to stop before proceeding through the intersection.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
No person shall park a vehicle on any street or highway for
the sole purpose of displaying advertising signs.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
No person shall operate any vehicle on any street or way in
the City for the primary purpose of advertising by sound or display
without a license therefor from the Chief of Police or the Committee.
No such license shall be granted for use on the days during which
any municipal, state or national primaries or elections are held.
[Amended 5-30-1972[1]]
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting
in the injury or death of any person or damage in excess of $1,000
to any one vehicle or other property shall report such accident to
the Police Department and to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles in compliance
with the requirements of MGL c. 90, § 26.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
The Chief of Police shall make an annual report concerning the
accident situation in the City, accompanied by his/her recommendations.
[Amended 5-30-1972]
[Amended 5-30-1972]
The Chief of Police shall include in the report to the Municipal
Council:
[As amended through 11-14-2006; subsequent amendments noted where applicable]
A.
Any person who violates any parking provisions of Article III or IV of this chapter shall, in accordance with MGL c. 90, § 20A1/2, as amended, be subject to a penalty of $20, provided that such payment is received within 21 days of the date that the ticket for such violation is issued. If payment is not received within such twenty-one-day period, the penalty for each such violation shall be an additional $10. If payment is not made prior to the Parking Clerk's report to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, the penalty due the City shall be further increased by an additional $10 for a total fine of $40 in addition to such penalty amount as may be charged by the commonwealth.
[Amended 12-13-2011[1]]
B.
Any person who violates the provisions of § 405-7 or parks so as to interfere with or impede the plowing or removal of snow and ice or is in violation of Article VII (Snow Emergency Regulations) shall be subject to a fine of $30 for each such violation, provided that payment of said $30 is received within 21 days of the date that the ticket for said violation is issued. If said fine is not paid within 21 days from the date the ticket is issued, the penalty for each such violation shall be an additional $10 for a total of $40.
C.
Any person who violates the provisions of these Revised Ordinances
so as to park a motor vehicle at a spot designated for handicapped
persons only shall be subject to a fine of $300 for each such violation,
provided that payment of said $300 is received within 21 days of the
date that the ticket for said violation is issued [$300 is governed
by MGL c. 40, § 21(24), fine not to exceed $300]. If the
fine is not paid within 21 days from the date the ticket is issued,
the penalty for each such violation shall be an additional $50. If
such payment is not made prior to the Parking Clerk's report to the
Registrar of Motor Vehicles, the penalty shall be further increased
by an additional $50 for a total fine of $400.[2]
