City of Taunton, MA Signs, Signals and Markings

The Municipal Council shall place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained all official traffic signs, signals, markings and safety zones. All signs, signals, markings and safety zones shall conform to the standards as prescribed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

§ 405-90 Obedience to signs.

The driver of every vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control signal, sign, marking, marker or legend, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

§ 405-91 Provisions to be effective only when signs erected.

Sections 405-6, 405-7, 405-30 and 405-31, relating to prohibited turns, §§ 405-44 to 405-49, inclusive, and §§ 405-53 to 405-60, inclusive, relating to parking shall be effective only during such times as sufficient official signs are erected and maintained designating the provisions of such sections and located so as to be easily visible to approaching drivers.

§ 405-92 When provisions pertaining to one-way streets effective.

Sections relating to one-way streets shall be effective only during such time as sufficient number of official signs are erected and maintained at each of the exits for each one-way street, so that at least one sign will be clearly visible for a distance of at least 75 feet to drivers approaching such an exit.

§ 405-93 Duty of driver approaching stop sign.

[Amended 8-8-2000]

Every driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection of ways where there exists facing him/her an official sign bearing the words "Stop" or a flashing red signal indication, said sign or signal having, apart from this section, been erected as prescribed in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation standards, and such approval being in effect, shall, before proceeding through the intersection, bring such vehicle to a complete stop at such point as may be clearly marked by a sign or line or, if a point is not so marked, then at the nearest line of crosswalk of said intersection. This section shall not apply when the traffic is otherwise directed by an officer or by a lawful traffic regulating sign, signal or device or as provided in § 405-15, Operation of vehicles in funeral procession.

§ 405-94 Designation of stop intersections.

[As amended through 1-5-2010; subsequent amendments noted where applicable]

In accordance with § 405-93, the following streets are hereby declared to constitute isolated stop streets or flashing red signal intersections, as the case may be. In each instance, traffic traveling in the direction indicated on the first-named street shall stop at the second-named street.

Stop Sign on	Direction of Travel	At Intersection of
Adams Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Albro Avenue		Bay Street
Allison Avenue		Mozzone Boulevard
Arlington Street [Added 3-27-2018]	Northerly end	School Street
Arthur Street	Eastbound and westbound	Garfield Street
Ashland Street [Added 3-27-2018]	Southbound	Dean Street
Avon Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Baker Road		Dighton Avenue
Baker Road (East)	Westbound	Old Somerset Avenue
Baker Road (West)	Eastbound	Old Somerset Avenue
Barnum Street	Southbound	Somerset Avenue
Barnum Street	Westbound	Cohannet Street
Bartlett Street [Added 10-13-2020]	Northerly	Plain Street
Bassett Street	Northbound	Bay Street
Beacon Street	Westbound	Berkley Street
Belmont Street	Northbound and southbound	Ashland Street
Bennett Street	Eastbound	Arlington Street
Bennett Street	Northbound	Ashland Street
Bennett Street Extension		Arlington Street
Berkley Street	Northbound	Plain Street
Birchwood Drive		Middleboro Avenue
Bluejay Lane [Added 10-4-2022]	Easterly	Mockingbird Way
Bluejay Lane [Added 10-4-2022]	Westerly	Mockingbird Way
Bow Street	Northbound	High Street
Bradford Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Briarwood Drive	Northbound	Hart Street
Briggs Street [Added 10-15-2013]		Cohannet Street
Broadway Avenue [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Brook Street	Westbound	Winthrop Street
Brushwood Drive	Southwest corner	Short Street, Route 140
Buffington Street	Eastbound	Ashland Street
Burt Street		Tremont Street
Burt Street [Added 8-29-2023]	Northerly	Winthrop Street
Burt Street [Added 8-29-2023]	Southerly	Winthrop Street
Butler Avenue		Middleboro Avenue
Butler Street		Van Buren Street
Butler Street	In both directions	Garfield Street
Caswell Street	Northbound	Middleboro Avenue
Cedar Street		Main Street
Cedar Street	Northbound and southbound	Fruit Street
Cedar Street	Northbound and southbound	Grant Street
Center Street		Middleboro Avenue
Charles F. Colton Road [Added 6-8-2021]	Westerly	Constitution Drive
Cherry Street	Northbound and southbound	Winter Street
Chestnut Street [Added 3-27-2018]	Southbound	Dean Street
Church Green	Eastbound	Dean Street
Church Green	Westbound	Summer Street
Church Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Church Street	Westbound	Adams Street
Clifford Street	Northbound	Tremont Street
Clifford Street	Northbound and southbound	Shores Street
Clifford Street	Southbound	Kilmer Avenue
Clinton Street	Northbound and southbound	Barnum Street
Cohannet Street	Eastbound	Winthrop Street and Post Office Square
Cohannet Street	Eastbound and westbound	Highland Street
Cohannet Street	Eastbound and westbound	Warner Boulevard
Cohannet Street	Southbound	Winthrop Street
Cohannet Street	Westbound	Winthrop Street (Westville)
Colonial Drive	Westbound	Williams Street Extension
Coolidge Street	Eastbound	Somerset Avenue
Coram Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Crane Avenue	Southbound	Norton Avenue
Crapo Street [Added 4-16-2019]	Eastbound	Fremont Street
Crapo Street [Added 4-16-2019]	Southbound	Tremont Street
Cullen Street		Middleboro Avenue
Dana Street	Eastbound	Granite Street
Danforth Street		Tremont Street
Dartmouth Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Davenport Street	Eastbound and westbound	Highland Street
Davis Street [Added 5-4-2021]	Northerly	Tremont Street
Dean Street	Eastbound	Cane Highway (Route 44)
Deer Track drive		Williams Street, northeast corner
DeWert Avenue	Eastbound	Smith Avenue
Dighton Avenue		Cohannet Street
Disamar Road [Added 3-27-2018]	Southbound	Dean Street
Dolan Circle		Middleboro Avenue
Dunbar Street	Eastbound	Fremont Street
East Britannia Street	Eastbound and westbound	Broadway
East Britannia Street	Eastbound and westbound	Washington Street
East Britannia Street	Westbound	Bay Street
East Water Street		Berkley Street
Eldridge		Danforth Street
Elm Street [Added 3-27-2018]	Southbound	Dean Street
Exeter Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Exeter Street	Westbound	Hamilton Street
Fairbanks Avenue	Eastbound and westbound	Center Street
Fairview Avenue	Eastbound	Winthrop Street
Fairview Avenue [Added 7-20-2010]	Westbound	Crossman Street
Ferrier Street		Middleboro Avenue
Field Street	Both	Bay Street
Fifth Street	Easterly end	West Water Street
Fisher Street		Highland Street
Fisher Street	Southbound	North Walker Street
Fisher Street	Westbound	North Walker Street
Flintlock Road		Crane Avenue South
Flintlock Road		Powderhorn Drive
Floral Street	Southbound	Winter Street
Floral Street	Westbound	Washington Street
Florence Street		Fairview Avenue
Florence Street	Eastbound and westbound	Highland Street
Forge Drive		Crane Avenue South
Forge Drive		Powderhorn Drive
Frederick R. Martin, Sr. Parkway		Cohannet Street
Frederick R. Martin, Sr. Parkway		Washington Street
Fruit Street	Westbound	School Street
Garfield Street	Eastbound and westbound	Butler Street
Garfield Street	In both directions	Butler Street
General Cobb Street	Northbound and southbound	Couch Street
Glebe Street	Eastbound	North Walker Street
Glebe Street	Eastbound	Tremont Street
Glebe Street	Westbound	North Walker Street
Governor Street [Added 2-27-2018]	Westbound	Washington Street
Granite Street	Northbound and southbound	Maple Street
Granite Street	Southbound	Tremont Street
Grant Street	Eastbound and westbound	School Street
Grant Street	Southbound	Ashland Street
Green Street		Hopewell Street
Greystone Avenue	Eastbound	Lawton Street
Greystone Street	Westbound	Lawton Avenue
Grove Street	Northbound	Adams Street
Gulliver Street	Eastbound	Burt Street
Hamilton Street	Eastbound	Adams Street
Hamilton Street	Northbound	Exeter Street
Harrison Avenue	Northbound and southbound	Barnum Street
Harrison Avenue [Added 10-13-2020]	Northerly	Harrison Street
Harrison Street	Eastbound	Weir Street
Harrison Street	Westbound	Winthrop Street
Harris Street	Southbound	Williams Street
Hart Street	Eastbound and westbound	County Street
Hart Street Extension		Middleboro Avenue
Herbert Street [Added 10-13-2020]	Northerly	Pratt Street
30 Highland Street Exit	Northbound	Highland Street
Highland Street	Eastbound	Somerset Avenue
Highland Street	Eastbound and westbound	Cohannet Street
High Street	Eastbound	Ingell Street
High Street	Westbound	Cohannet Street
Hodges Avenue [Added 3-2-2020]	Southbound	Washington Street
Hodges Street	Eastbound	Worcester Street
Hopewell Street	Northbound	Danforth Street
Hopewell Street	Southbound	Exeter Street
Hummingbird Lane [Added 10-4-2022]	Easterly	Mockingbird Way
Hummingbird Lane [Added 10-4-2022]	Westerly	Mockingbird Way
Jackson Street	Eastbound and westbound	Washington Street
Jackson Street	Southbound	Bay Street
Jackson Street	Westbound	Bay Street
James Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Jefferson Street	Eastbound	Broadway
Jefferson Street	Southbound	Bay Street
Jerome Street	Westbound	Berkley Street
Johnson Street [Added 7-20-2010]	Northbound	County Street
Johnson Street [Added 7-20-2010]	Southbound	County Street
Joseph Quinn Drive		Myles Standish Boulevard, northwest corner
Kilmer Avenue [Added 10-4-2022]	Easterly	Oak Street
Kingman Street	Northbound	South Precinct Street
Kingman Street	Southbound	Only at Myricks Street
King Phillip Street		Prospect Hill Street
King Street	Northbound	Bay Street
Lakeview Avenue	Southbound	Bay Street
Laurel Street		Fairview Avenue
Lawrence Street	Eastbound and westbound	State Street
Leonard Street	Eastbound	School Street
Leonard Street	Westbound	Broadway
Liberty Street		Middleboro Avenue
Liberty Street	Southbound	Caswell Street
Linden Street	Eastbound	County Street
Linden Street	Westbound	Hart Street
Lothrop Street	Northbound	Field Street
Lothrop Street	Southbound	Prospect Hill Street
Madison Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Margaret Road		Middleboro Avenue
Marvel Street	Southbound	Highland Street
McIntosh Drive	Northeast corner and southwest corner	McIntosh Drive and Quequechan Road
Middle Avenue	In both directions	Pinehill and Caswell Streets
Middleboro Avenue	Eastbound	Pinehill Street
Middleboro Avenue [Added 2-18-2020]	Westbound	Caswell Street
Mockingbird Way	Southbound	Blackbird Lane
Monroe Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Morton Street	Westbound	Dana Street
Myrtle Street	Eastbound	Mason Street
Nemasket Street		Middleboro Avenue
North Avenue	Eastbound and westbound	Hopewell Street
North Pleasant Street	Southbound	Washington Street
North Walker Street (Ext.)	Eastbound	Winthrop Street
Norton Avenue	Southbound	Dunbar Street
Norton Avenue	Southbound	Tremont Street
O'Connor Street		Middleboro Avenue
Old Colony Avenue		Middleboro Avenue
Old Norton Avenue	Southbound	Norton Avenue
Old Somerset Avenue [Added 5-11-2021]	Northbound	Somerset Avenue
Old Somerset Avenue (south)	Southbound	Baker Road and Lawton Avenue
Olney Street		Prior to its intersection with Oak Street
Olney Street [Added 5-26-2015]		Wales Street
Orchard Street	Westbound	Approaching West Weir Street
Oxford Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Parking Avenue	Westbound	King Street
Park Street		Washington Street
Paull Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Pearl Street	Northbound and southbound	Butler Street
Pheasant Run		Flintlock Road
Pinehill Street	Eastbound	Middleboro Avenue
Plain Street	Eastbound	West Water Street
Plain Street	Westbound	Hart Street
Pleasant Street	Eastbound	Broadway
Pleasant Street	Northbound	Washington Street
Poole Street	Southbound	Hart Street
Porter Street	Eastbound	Cohannet Street
Porter Street	Eastbound and westbound	Mason Street
Powderhorn Drive		Flintlock Road
Prospect Hill Street	Northbound	Field Street
Prospect Hill Street	Westbound	Scadding Street
Prospect Street [Added 3-27-2018]	Northbound	Dean Street
Puffin Way [Added 10-4-2022]	Westerly	Blackbird Lane
Purchase Street [Added 3-27-2018]	Eastbound and westbound	Washington Street
Purchase Street [Added 3-27-2018]	Southerly end	School Street
Purchase Street	Westbound	Bay Street
Railroad Avenue	Eastbound and westbound	Somerset Avenue
Randall Street		Broadway
Red Land		Middleboro Avenue
Reed Street [Added 5-26-2015]		Wales Street
Richmond Street		Middleboro Avenue
Richmond Street	Northbound	Route 44
River Road [Added 3-27-2018]	Southbound	Dean Street
Rocky Woods Street	Eastbound	North Walker Street
Round Street [Added 5-26-2015]		Tremont Street
Route 140	Northbound	Church Green
Scadding Street	Northbound	Field Street
Scadding Street	Southbound	Bay Street
School Street	Northbound	Thrasher Street
School Street	Northbound	Winter Street
School Street	Southbound	Floral Street
Sherborne Street [Added 10-4-2022]	Northerly	Fairbanks Avenue
Sherborne Street [Added 10-4-2022]	Southerly	Fairbanks Avenue
Sherborne Street		Middleboro Avenue
Sherwood Avenue		Middleboro Avenue
Shores Street		Fisher Street
Shores Street		Tremont Street
Shores Street	Eastbound and westbound	Clifford Street
Short Street [Added 7-20-2010]	Southbound	Worcester Street
Silver Street	Northbound and southbound	Cohannet Street
Silver Street	Westbound	Winthrop Street
Sir Joseph Circle	South west	Williams Street
Smith Avenue	Southbound	Highland Street
Smith Street	Eastbound	Jenny Lind Street
Somerset Avenue	Northbound	Weir Street
Somerset Avenue [Added 5-11-2021]	Southbound	Lawton Street
South Avenue	Eastbound	Bay Street
South Avenue	Westbound	Hopewell Street
South Precinct Street	Northbound	Middleboro Avenue
South Street	Westbound	Railroad Avenue
Spring Street		High Street
Spring Street	Eastbound	Summer Street
Staple Street	Northbound	Caswell Street
State Street	Westbound	Cottage Street
Stevens Street		Middleboro Avenue
Stevens Street	Northbound	Middleboro Avenue
Sumner Street	Eastbound	Cushman Street
Talbot Avenue [Added 10-13-2020]	Northerly	Pratt Street
Taunton High School access road	Westbound	Gordon Owen Riverway
Terrianne Drive [Added 5-26-2015]		Field Street
Turner Street	Westbound	South Precinct Street (approximately 150 to 200 feet east of the intersection)
Union Street	Northbound and southbound	Fruit Street
Vaillancourt Street	Northbound	Van Buren Street
Van Buren Street	Eastbound	Wilson Avenue
Van Buren Street	Northbound and southbound	Butler Street and Wilson Avenue
Van Buren Street	Southbound	Washington Street
Van Buren Street	Westbound	Butler Street
Viking Street		Middleboro Avenue
Warren Street	Southbound	West Britannia Street
Warren Street	Westbound	Whittenton Street
Washburn Street	Eastbound	Ashland Street
Washburn Street	Eastbound	School Street
Washington Street	Eastbound and westbound	Broadway (Short Square)
Washington Street	Northbound	Bay Street
Washington Street	Northbound and southbound	Purchase Street
Waverly Street	Southbound	Washington Street
Weir Street	Northbound	Bow Street
West Britannia Street	Eastbound	Bay Street
West Britannia Street	Westbound	Fremont Street
West Weir Street	Southbound	First Street
West Weir Street	Westbound	Cohannet Street
Westcoat Drive		Entering Middleboro Avenue
Westcoat Drive		Middleboro Avenue
White Street	Eastbound and westbound	Somerset Avenue
White Street	Westbound	Harrison Avenue
Whittenton Street [Added 5-11-2021]	Eastbound	Broadway
Whittenton Street	Eastbound and westbound	Washington Street
Whittenton Street	Eastbound and westbound	Warren Street; notwithstanding any other provision of law or of these ordinances, the sign or signal regulating eastbound traffic at said intersection shall be located at a point 184 feet, more or less, easterly from the property line of the premises at 487 Whittenton Street
Whittenton Street	Northbound and southbound	Bay Street
Williams Street	Eastbound and westbound	Honorable Gordon M. Owens Boulevard
Williams Street	Westbound	County Street
Wilson Avenue		Van Buren Street
Winter Street	Northbound	Washington Street
Winter Street	Northbound and southbound	School Street
Worchester Street	Eastbound	Hodges Street
Worcester Street	Eastbound	Norton Road
Wren Street [Amended 10-4-2022]	Northerly	Cardinal Circle and Mockingbird Way
Wren Street [Added 10-4-2022]	Southerly	Cardinal Circle and Mockingbird Way

§ 405-95 Obedience to yield signs.

[Amended 8-5-1975; 11-26-1996; 5-6-1997; 2-12-2002; 11-10-2009; 1-5-2010]

Every driver of a vehicle or other conveyance approaching an intersection of ways, where there exists facing the driver an official sign bearing the word "Yield," said sign having been erected in accordance with the written approval of the Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and such approval being in effect, shall surrender to oncoming traffic his/her right to enter the intersection until such time as the driver has brought the vehicle or other conveyance to a complete stop at a point between said "Yield" sign and the nearer line of the street intersection; provided, however, that this requirement to stop before entering the intersection shall not apply when a driver approaching a "Yield" sign can enter the intersection in safety without causing approaching traffic interference.

[Amended 6-6-2016]

This section shall not apply whenever the traffic is controlled by an officer or regulating sign, signal or device.

[Amended 6-6-2016]

In accordance with the foregoing, "Yield" signs are authorized to face:

(1)

Ingell Street, eastbound drivers on Ingell Street at County Street.

(2)

Tremont Street, southbound drivers on Tremont Street at Oak Street and Washington Street.

(3)

Grove Street Extension at Grove Street.

(4)

Grove Street at Grove Street Extension.

(5)

Andrea Lane, southbound at Rocky Woods Street.

(6)

Burt Street, westbound at Gulliver Street.

(7)

Located on the corner of Highland Street at the property identified as 220 Highland Street, facing eastbound drivers onto Highland Street at intersection with Highland Avenue and Smith Avenue.

[Added 10-4-2022]

§ 405-96 Traffic control signals.

[Amended 10-30-1979; 12-13-1988]

Color and arrow indications in traffic control signals shall have the commands ascribed to them in this section and no other meaning, and every driver of a vehicle or other conveyance shall comply therewith, except when otherwise directed by an officer or by a lawful traffic regulating sign (other than a "stop" sign), signal, or device, or except as provided in § 405-15B. In no case shall a driver 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.

Green. While the green lens is illuminated, drivers 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. Drivers of vehicles making a right or left turn shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing with the flow of traffic.

Right, left and vertical green arrows. When a right green arrow is illuminated, drivers facing such signal may turn right. When a left green arrow is illuminated, drivers facing such signal may turn left. When a vertical green arrow is illuminated, drivers facing such signal may go straight ahead. When a green arrow is exhibited together with a red or a yellow lens, drivers 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.

Yellow. While the yellow lens is illuminated, waiting drivers shall not proceed and any driver 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 that, if a green arrow is illuminated at the same time, drivers may enter the intersection to make the movement permitted by such arrow.

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 MGL c. 89, § 8, 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 the following intersections:

Name of Street	Direction of Travel	Intersection
Arlington Street	Southbound	Dean Street
Broadway	Northbound	Purchase Street
Broadway	Northbound	Washington Street
Broadway	Southbound	Purchase Street
Broadway	Southbound	Taunton Green
Broadway	Southbound	Washington Street
Church Green	Westbound	Summer Street
Court Street	Northbound and southbound legs	Washington and Court Street
First Street	Eastbound	Somerset Avenue
First Street	Westbound	Somerset Avenue
Highland Street	Eastbound	Winthrop Street
Highland Street	Westbound	Winthrop Street
High Street	Eastbound	Weir Street
High Street	Eastbound	Winthrop Street
High Street	Westbound	Weir Street
High Street	Westbound	Winthrop Street
Purchase Street	Eastbound	Broadway
Purchase Street	Westbound	Broadway
Somerset Avenue	Eastbound leg	Weir Street and Somerset Avenue
Somerset Avenue	Northbound	First Street
Somerset Avenue	Southbound	First Street
Spring Street	Eastbound	Summer Street
Summer Street	Northbound	Church Green
Summer Street	Southbound	Spring Street
Taunton Green	Eastbound	Weir Street
Washington Street	Eastbound	Broadway
Washington Street	Eastbound and westbound legs	Washington and Court Streets
Washington Street	Westbound	Broadway
Washington Street	Westbound	Tremont Street
Weir Street	Northbound	Main Street
Weir Street	Northbound and southbound legs	Weir and High Streets
Weir Street	Northbound and southbound legs	Weir Street and Somerset Avenue.
Winthrop Street	Northbound	Highland Street
Winthrop Street	Southbound	Highland Street
Winthrop Street	Southbound	High Street
Winthrop Street	Southeastbound	High Street

Red and yellow. While the red and yellow lenses are illuminated together, a driver shall not enter the intersection and during such time the intersection shall be reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians.

Flashing red. A flashing red lens shall indicate those intersections at which a driver is required by law to stop before entering.

Flashing yellow. A flashing yellow lens shall indicate the presence of a hazard and drivers may proceed only with caution.

Flashing green. A flashing green lens shall indicate an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk in use or subject to use by entering or crossing traffic. Drivers may proceed only with caution and shall be prepared to comply with a change in the signal to a red or red and yellow indication.

Mandatory right turn, "Right Lane Must Turn Right" signs: Weir Street, north leg, at Somerset Avenue, right lane.

§ 405-97 Intersections where grades are separated or where traffic islands or ramps exist.

At any junction or crossing of ways where the roadway grades have been separated and where the ways are connected by ramps and at any intersection of ways in which there are traffic islands, drivers of vehicles shall proceed only as indicated by official signs, signals or markings.

§ 405-98 Interference prohibited with signs and signals.

Any person who willfully defaces, injures, moves, obstructs or interferes with any official traffic sign, signal or marking shall be punished as provided in § 1-5 of this Code.

§ 405-99 Designation of bus stops, taxi stands and service zones.

The location of all bus stops, taxicab stands and service zones shall be specified by the Municipal Council and, in the case of taxicab stands, the Municipal Council shall designate who may use them as such.

§ 405-100 Unauthorized signs and signals.

No person shall place or maintain or display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic sign, signal, marking or device or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view any official sign or signal. The Chief of Police is empowered to remove every such prohibited sign, signal, marking or device or cause it to be removed, without notice.