For the purpose of this chapter, the words and phrases used
herein shall have the following meanings, except in those instances
where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
An area in the roadway set aside for the boarding of or alighting
from and the parking of buses.
Any vehicle being used in the transportation of goods, wares
or merchandise for commercial purposes.
Any commercial vehicle 2 1/2 tons' capacity or over.
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.
Vehicles of the Fire Department (fire patrol), 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.
An institution or place, whether public or private, in which
sick or injured human beings are given medical or surgical care.
The area embraced within the extensions of the lateral curblines
or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of intersecting ways
as defined in MGL c. 90, § 1, including divided ways. The
rules and regulations herein contained governing and restricting the
movement of vehicles at and near intersecting ways shall apply at
any place along any way at which drivers are to be controlled by traffic
control signals, whether or not such place is an intersection as herein
defined.
A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient
width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.
Any police officer, any investigator, examiner or inspector
of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, any constable or special officer,
provided that he is in uniform and has his badge of office displayed
over his left breast and upon his outer garment.
That portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been
authorized by the City Council, and which has the written approval
of 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 City Council and which
has the written approval of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
All signals, conforming to the standards as prescribed by
the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, not inconsistent with
these regulations, 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 these regulations, and which conform to the standards
prescribed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and 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.
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.
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.
Counterclockwise operation of a vehicle around an object,
structure, or island in the roadway.
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 having the written approval of 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, street cars
or other conveyances either singly 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 Massachusetts Department of Transportation, whether
manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic
may be alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
Any area or space set aside, within a roadway, which is not
intended for use by vehicular traffic.
The turning, by backing or otherwise, of a vehicle on a street
or way so as to head or drive the vehicle along the same street or
way in the opposite direction.
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.
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 signal, 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.
No person shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of an officer, as defined in § 325-1, relating to the direction, control, or regulation of traffic. Any person acting in conformity with any such order or direction shall be relieved from the observance of any provision of this chapter with which it conflicts.
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.
The Chief of Police is authorized to temporarily prohibit parking
on any street or highway or part thereof in an impending or existing
emergency or for a lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession,
provided that there is a reasonable justification for such prohibition.
Vehicles parked in places where parking is temporarily prohibited
may be moved by or under the direction of an officer.
For the purpose of trial, the City Council may make temporary
rules regulating traffic or test under actual conditions traffic signs,
signals, markings or other devices. No such experimental rule regulating
traffic shall remain in effect for a period of time longer than 60
days.
Every person propelling any pushcart or riding an animal upon
a roadway shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable
to the driver of any vehicle.
No person shall drive or propel any vehicle used primarily for
the display of advertising signs without first obtaining a permit
therefor from the Chief of Police.
A.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the
injury or death of any person or property damage to an apparent extent
of $200 or more shall, within 24 hours, make a full and complete report
in writing of such accident to the police headquarters in this City.
A driver who has been incapacitated as a result of such accident,
and to such extent as to make reporting impossible or unfavorable
to his recovery, shall not be required to report such accident until
he has recovered sufficiently to be able to do so. The report shall
be made on a form furnished by the Police Department, copies of which
shall be available at the police station. Compliance with this section,
however, shall not relieve such driver from the additional responsibility
of reporting to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles any accident in which
a person is killed or injured.
B.
The Police Department may require any driver of a vehicle involved
in an accident, of which report must be made as provided in this section,
to file supplementary reports whenever the original report is insufficient
in the opinion of the department.
A.
Location. The location of all bus stops, taxicab stands and service
zones shall be specified by the City Council, and in the case of taxicab
stands the City Council may designate the location thereof and who
shall use them as such.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to drivers 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, nor 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 these regulations. These exemptions shall not, however, protect
the driver of any vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard
of the safety of others.
If any vehicle is found upon any street or highway in violation
of any provisions of this chapter and the identity of the driver cannot
be determined, the owner, or person in whose name such vehicle is
registered, shall be held prima facie responsible for such violation.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
Any person violating any provision of any rule, regulation or
order regulating the parking of motor vehicles made by any body authorized
to make the same shall be dealt with as provided in MGL c. 90, § 20A,
and any person violating any of the rules and regulations applicable
to state highways made by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
under authority of MGL c. 85, § 2, shall be subject to the
penalty provided in such rules and regulations. Any person convicted
of a violation of any other regulation made hereunder, except as otherwise
provided, shall be punished by a fine of $20 for each offense.
