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 marking which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles
an official traffic sign, signal or marking, or which attempts to
direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view any official
sign or signal. The Chief of Police is hereby empowered to remove
every such prohibited sign, signal or marking or cause it to be removed,
without notice.
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully deface, injure,
move, obstruct or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal
or marking.
Colors and arrow indications in traffic-control signals shall have the commands ascribed to them in this section, and no other meanings, and every driver of a vehicle, railway car 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 §
270-33. 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.
A. 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 turn or left turn shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
crossing with the flow of traffic.
B. 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 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.
C. Yellow. When 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, however, that if a
green arrow is illuminated at the same time, drivers may enter the
intersection to make the movement permitted by such arrow.
D. Red. 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.
E. Red and yellow. While the red and yellow lenses are illuminated together,
drivers shall not enter the intersection, and during such time the
intersection shall be reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians.
F. Flashing red. When a red lens is illuminated in a traffic-control
signal by rapid intermittent flashes, and its use has been specifically
authorized by the Department of Public Services, drivers shall stop
before entering the nearer line or crosswalk of the street intersection,
or at a stop line when marked, and the right to proceed shall then
be governed by provisions of MGL c. 89, § 8.
G. Flashing yellow. A flashing yellow lens shall indicate the presence
of a hazard and drivers may proceed only with caution.
H. Flashing green. A flashing green lens shall indicate an intersection
or pedestrian crosswalk in use or subject to use by entering or cross
traffic. Drivers may proceed only with caution and shall be prepared
to comply with a change in the signal to a red or yellow or red and
yellow indication.