[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen (now Select Board) of the Town of Nantucket 9-10-2008, effective 11-1-2008. Amendments noted where applicable.[1]]
TOWN CODE REFERENCES
Buses — See Ch. 27.
Vehicles on beaches — See Ch. 56.
Bicycles and mopeds — See Ch. 57.
Motorized passenger devices — See Ch. 98.
Abandoned vehicles — See Ch. 104.
TOWN REGULATIONS REFERENCES
Pedicabs — See Ch. 316.
Taxicabs, charter, limousine and tour vehicles — See Ch. 367.
ATTACHMENTS
Appendix A, One-Way StreetsAppendix B, Stop SignsAppendix C, Yield SignsAppendix D, Special Speed Rules and RegulationsAppendix E, School Zone Speed RestrictionsAppendix F, Horse-Drawn Carriage RestrictionsAppendix G, Heavy Commercial Vehicles ExcludedAppendix H, Commercial Vehicles ExcludedAppendix I, Exclusion of Vehicles from Public WaysAppendix J, Schedule of FinesAppendix K, Nantucket ExemptionAppendix L, Nantucket Parking District Map
[1]
Editor's Note: The Select Board approved the codification of its regulations, as revised, 4-13-2022.
[Amended 4-13-2022; 1-22-2025, effective 4-15-2025]
For the purpose of these rules and regulations, the words and phrases used herein shall have the following meanings except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Vehicles of the Fire Department, Police Department, 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, or any federal, state and municipal vehicle engaged in the repair of a public way.
BICYCLE
Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having no more than two tandem wheels, either of which is 14 inches or more in diameter.
BICYCLE PATH
Any way under the care, custody, or control of the Town of Nantucket, specifically designated and used for bicycle and/or pedestrian travel, whereupon motorized vehicles of any kind are excluded.
BOARD
The Nantucket Select Board.
BUS
Any motor vehicle designed for carrying more than 10 passengers and used for the transportation of persons or any motor vehicle operated upon a public way for the carriage of passengers for hire in such a manner as to afford a means of transportation similar to that afforded by a railway company by indiscriminately receiving and discharging passengers along the route on which the vehicle is operated or may be running, or for transporting passengers for hire as a business between fixed and regular termini, or transporting passengers for hire under a charter license, special service or school service permit issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. When applicable, the term "bus" shall include a school bus.
BUS STAND
An area in the roadway, adjacent to the curb or edge of roadway, set aside for the long-term (in excess of 15 minutes) parking of any bus and confined to certain types of buses as indicated on the posted sign(s).
BUS STOP
An area in the roadway, adjacent to the curb or edge of roadway, set aside for parking of, boarding of or alighting from buses.
COMMERCIAL PARKING DISTRICT
The parking district as shown on a map entitled "Nantucket Parking Districts Map," dated May 21, 2014, as amended, and on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
Any vehicle being used in the transportation of goods, wares or merchandise for commercial purposes. All commercial vehicles must permanently display on both sides of the vehicle (exclusive of windows) the vehicle owner's name, address and telephone number on at least three separate lines and bearing commercial license plates.
COMMERCIALLY REGISTERED VEHICLE
Any vehicle bearing commercial license plates.
CORE DISTRICT
The parking district as shown on a map entitled "Nantucket Parking Districts Map," dated May 21, 2014, as amended, and on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
COURTESY VEHICLE
A vehicle owned, operated or hired by a commercial enterprise, to be used, or designated to be used, for the conveyance of passengers to and from the commercial enterprise without payment of a direct fee for said conveyance.
CROSSWALK
That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of curblines and property lines at intersections, or any portion of a roadway indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines on the road surface or by other markings or signs.
DISABLED VETERAN (DV) PLATE VEHICLE
A vehicle bearing a distinctive number plate authorized by MGL c. 90, § 2.
DRIVER
A person who is in actual physical control of an operating vehicle.
FUNERAL
Any procession of vehicles properly identified as such accompanying the remains of a human body.
HANDICAP (HP) PLATE VEHICLE
A vehicle bearing a distinctive number plate authorized by MGL c. 90, § 2.
HANDICAP PLACARD VEHICLE
A vehicle properly displaying a handicap placard issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, pursuant to MGL c. 90, § 2.
HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
Any commercial vehicle of over 2-1/2-ton capacity.
HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE
Any horse-drawn carriage used or kept for hire for the purpose of transporting passengers as part of sightseeing tours or used in connection with weddings.
INTERSECTING WAY
Any way which joins another way at an angle, whether or not it crosses the other.
INTERSECTION
The area embraced within the extensions of the lateral curblines, or if none, then the lateral boundary lines of intersecting ways, including divided highways. 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 signs, whether or not such place is an intersection as herein defined.
LANE
A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient width to accommodate the passage or parking of a single line of vehicles.
LIVERY VEHICLE
A vehicle used, or designated to be used, for the conveyance of fewer than 16 persons or passengers for hire, from place to place, except a bus, streetcar, taxi or commercial vehicle.
LOADING ZONE
That portion of a roadway adjacent to a curb or edge of the pavement reserved for commercial vehicles, as defined in this section, during the actual loading or unloading of materials, or passenger vehicles during the actual receiving or discharging of passengers, indicated by the presence of at least one regulatory sign marking the limits of the loading zone as authorized by the Town of Nantucket.
MOTORIZED BICYCLE (MOPED)
A pedal bicycle which is assisted by a motor, or a nonpedal bicycle which has a motor, with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission, and which is capable of a maximum speed of no more than 30 miles per hour.
MUNICIPAL PAID PARKING LOT
A municipal parking lot owned and operated by the Town of Nantucket where payment is required to park.
MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT
A parking lot owned and operated by the Town of Nantucket.
NONEMERGENCY REPAIRS
The changing of any vehicle fluid and any other repair, with the exception of minor safety-related repairs and repairs necessary for the vehicle to operate under its own power, that can be completed within 90 minutes, such as changing oil, replacing a tire, replacing a headlight or bulb, or replacing a wiper blade.
OFFICIAL STREET MARKING
Any painted line, legend, marking or marker of any description painted or placed upon any public way which purports to direct or regulate traffic and which has been authorized by the Town of Nantucket and which has the written approval of the Department of Transportation, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, if required.
OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD
Whenever certain hours are named herein they shall mean standard time or daylight-saving time.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGN
All signs, markings and devices, other than signals, not inconsistent with these rules and regulations, and which conform to the standards prescribed by the Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and placed or erected by authority of public body or Town official having jurisdiction for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning, or regulating traffic.
PARKING
The stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when paused in compliance with the law or directions of a police officer or official traffic control device.
PARKING DISTRICTS MAP
A map of streets in the Town of Nantucket on file in the office of the Town Clerk which contains the geographical boundaries of the Resident Parking Permit District, the Commercial Parking District, and the Core District.
PARKING MANAGEMENT VENDOR
A third-party company under contract with the Town, to assist with organizing, optimizing, and enforcement of public parking spaces allowing users to find available opportunities and paying for parking using a mobile app, internet, or phone service.
PASSENGER VEHICLE
Any vehicle registered as a passenger vehicle, including livery vehicles, and excluding buses and commercial vehicles.
PEDESTRIAN
Any person afoot or riding on a conveyance moved by human power, except bicycles.
PERSON
Any person afoot or riding on a conveyance moving by human muscular power, except bicycles or tricycles.
POLICE OFFICER or OFFICER
Any officer of the Nantucket Police Department authorized to direct or regulate traffic or make arrests for violations of these rules and regulations.
POSTED
Officially posted by the Town of Nantucket.
PRIVATE WAY OR DRIVEWAY
Every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner.
PUBLIC WAY
Any road, street, way, highway, improved or unimproved road that is dedicated to public use.
RESIDENT PARKING PERMIT DISTRICT
A parking district as shown on a map entitled "Nantucket Parking Districts Map," dated May 21, 2014, as amended, and on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
ROADWAY
That portion of a public way between the regularly established curblines or that part, exclusive of shoulders, improved and intended to be used for vehicular traffic.
ROTARY
A road junction formed about a central circle around which traffic moves in one direction only.
ROTARY TRAFFIC
The counter-clockwise operation of one or more vehicles around a rotary.
SAFETY ZONE
The area delineated by traffic cones, barrels or other similar objects which indicate an area of road construction, hazard or other special event where traffic control is under the direct supervision of a police officer.
SCHOOL BUS
Any vehicle used for the transporting of pupils and school personnel to and from school, or for the transportation of children enrolled in a camp or recreational program, while so used, but not including any such vehicle used for not more than five days in case of emergency, or a vehicle used for the common carriage of the public under a certificate and permit issued under MGL c. 159A, § 7 and § 8.
SEMI-TRAILER
A trailer so designed and used in combination with a tractor that some part of the weight of such trailer and that of its load rests upon and is carried by the tractor.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a public way set aside for pedestrian travel.
STAND or STANDING
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, other than for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, receiving or discharging passengers.
STOP or STOPPING
The halting, even momentarily, of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic.
TAXI
A vehicle used, or designed to be used, for the conveyance of persons or passengers for hire, from place to place, and licensed by the Town of Nantucket.
TAXI STAND
An area in the roadway in which certain taxicabs are authorized and required to park while waiting to be engaged.
TEMPORARY OR EXPERIMENTAL RULE
Rules of the Town of Nantucket regulating traffic or to test, under actual conditions, traffic signs, signals, markings, or other devices.
TOWN
The Town of Nantucket.
TRACTOR
A motor vehicle with or without a carrying capacity of its own but which is primarily designed and used for drawing another vehicle or for industrial or agricultural purposes.
TRAFFIC
Pedestrians, herded or ridden animals, vehicles, or other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any public way for the purpose of travel.
TRAFFIC ISLAND
Any area or space set aside within a public way, which is not intended for use by vehicles.
TRAILER
Any vehicle or object on wheels and having no forward movement power of its own, but which is drawn by or used in combination with a vehicle.
U-TURN
The turning of a vehicle whereby the direction of such vehicle is reversed.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public way, including bicycles, when the provisions of these rules and regulations are applicable to them, except non-bicycle devices moved by human power, or horse-drawn carriages.
It shall be the duty of police officers designated by the Chief of Police to enforce the provisions of these rules and regulations. Such officers are hereby authorized to direct all traffic either in person or by means of visible or audible signal in conformance with the provisions of these rules and regulations, provided that in the event of a fire, other emergency, or upon determination by the Chief of Police or designee, to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police or Fire Department may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of these rules and regulations.
A. 
Driver adherence to police officers. No driver of any vehicle shall fail to comply with any lawful order, signal, or direction of a police officer.
B. 
Police may temporarily close public way. The Chief of Police, his/her designee, or the Board is hereby authorized to close temporarily any public way in an impending or existing emergency, or for any lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession.
C. 
Police may temporarily prohibit parking. The Chief of Police or designee is hereby authorized to prohibit, temporarily, parking on any public way or part thereof in an impending or existing emergency or for a lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession. Vehicles parked in places where parking is prohibited temporarily may be moved by or under the direction of an officer.
D. 
Exemptions. The provisions of these rules and regulations shall not apply to drivers actually engaged in work upon a public way closed to travel or under construction or repair, to officers when engaged in the performance of emergency duties nor to drivers of authorized emergency vehicles while operating in an emergency and in performance of emergency duties when the nature of the work of any of these necessitate a departure from any part of these rules and regulations. These exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.
E. 
Removal of vehicles; liability for costs. The Police Department may remove or cause to be removed to some convenient place, including in such term a public garage, any vehicle interfering with the removal of snow or roadway maintenance, and the owner of such vehicle shall be liable for the cost of such removal and for the storage charges, if any, resulting therefrom.
A. 
Display of unauthorized signs, signals, markings, or devices prohibited. No person shall place, maintain, or display, upon or in view of any public way, 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 traffic sign, signal, marking, or device, unless otherwise authorized by the Board. The Chief of Police is hereby empowered to remove every such prohibited sign, signal, marking or device or cause it to be removed without notice.
B. 
Interference with signs, signals, markings, or devices prohibited. No person shall willfully deface, damage, move, obstruct, or interfere with any official traffic sign, signal, marking, or device.
C. 
Obedience to official traffic signs, signals, markings, or devices. The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic sign, signal, device, marking, or device, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
D. 
Traffic signs, exceptions.
(1) 
Those provisions of these rules and regulations relating to parking or the exclusion of vehicles shall be effective only during such time as at least one official traffic sign is installed and maintained upon a public way in reasonable proximity to the area designating the provisions of such parking or vehicle exclusions.
(2) 
Those provisions of these rules and regulations relating to one-way streets shall be effective only during such times as at least one official traffic sign is erected and maintained at each of the exits of each one-way street.
[Amended 1-22-2025, effective 4-15-2025]
A. 
General prohibitions. No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park in any public way under the control of the Town in violation of any provision of these rules and regulations. No driver shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle in any of the following places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, pedestrians, or in compliance with the lawful direction of a police officer or official traffic sign, signal, marking, or device if such stopping, standing, or parking is the result of an involuntary situation.
B. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park within an intersection, except in those areas where the parking or stopping has been permitted by the Town through the installation of designated signs or pavement markings.
C. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any sidewalk or bicycle path in such a manner as to obstruct the passage of pedestrians.
D. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any crosswalk.
E. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way within 20 feet of an intersecting way.
F. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the driveway entrance to any fire station within 75 feet opposite said driveway entrance.
G. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any roadway within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, the distance to be measured from the point of the edge or curb of said way nearest said fire hydrant.
H. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park in front of any driveway.
I. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any bridge.
J. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way, unless both wheels on the side of the vehicle adjacent to the curb are within one foot of the curb or edge of the roadway, except where angle parking is permitted or commercial vehicles, as defined in § 375-1 of these rules and regulations, are permitted to back to the curb or edge of the roadway.
K. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way where the parking of a vehicle will not leave a clear and unobstructed lane for passing traffic at least 10 feet wide on a one-way street and 20 feet wide on a two-way street.
L. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park in excess of one vehicle width from the curb or edge of a public way (double park).
M. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park at any place where at least one official traffic sign has been placed or erected prohibiting such stopping, standing, or parking.
N. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park in any taxi stand which has been officially posted as such by the Town.
O. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way or part thereof where at least one sign prohibits parking for the purpose of facilitating street cleaning or street maintenance, unless the vehicle is a passenger vehicle stopped temporarily during the actual receiving or discharging of passengers.
P. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park within a turnaround at the end of any dead-end street, provided at least one official sign is erected.
Q. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way or part thereof where at least one sign prohibits parking for the purpose of facilitating snow removal, unless the vehicle is a passenger vehicle stopped temporarily during the actual receiving or discharging of passengers or a commercial vehicle stopped temporarily during the loading or unloading of goods.
R. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way unless the vehicle is parked facing in the direction of traffic flow on that side of the street, except where angle parking is permitted or commercial vehicles are permitted to back to the curb or edge of the roadway.
S. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park at any place within the Resident Parking Permit District in excess of the posted parking restrictions unless the vehicle properly displays a valid resident parking permit sticker.
T. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way or part thereof where at least one sign is erected reserving the space for HP (handicap) or DV (disabled veteran) plate vehicles, except for disabled veteran/handicap plate/handicap placard vehicles, as defined in § 375-1 of these rules and regulations.
U. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way in front of any curb ramp designed for use by handicapped persons.
V. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle owned or registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way unless the vehicle displays a valid registration plate as required by MGL c. 90.
W. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle owned or registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way unless the vehicle displays a valid certificate of inspection as required by MGL.
X. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle owned or registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way for the purpose of performing nonemergency repairs to a vehicle.
Y. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle owned or registered in his/her name to stop, stand, or park upon any public way where the vehicle is being displayed or offered for sale.
Z. 
No person shall park or allow a motor vehicle to stand in an area which has been clearly marked with visible signs and/or pavement markings indicating that the area is a fire lane. Vehicles in violation of this subsection may be subject to a fine and removed by any police officer of the Town of Nantucket in accordance with MGL c. 266, § 120D, MGL c. 40, § 22, or any other enabling authority.
A. 
No driver shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, pedestrians, or in compliance with the lawful direction of a police officer or official traffic sign, signal, marking, or device.
B. 
No driver shall stand or park any vehicle where signs are posted restricting parking to certain days and/or times, on any day during the hours indicated, provided that the rules and regulations shall not apply to passenger vehicles stopped temporarily during the receiving or discharging of passengers.
C. 
No driver of a courtesy vehicle shall stand or park a courtesy vehicle in any designated parking space, loading zone, or space specifically designated as a loading area for courtesy vehicles without first having obtained a courtesy vehicle permit from the Town.
A. 
No driver shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle at any curb adjacent to the entrances of a school, church, theater, hotel, hospital, ferry terminal, public building, supermarket, or any place of public assemblage unless otherwise posted. The foregoing prohibition shall not apply to passenger vehicles stopped temporarily during the actual receiving or discharging of passengers or for commercial deliveries, including those of the Postal Service while in the process of loading or unloading.
B. 
No driver shall park any vehicle on any public way, or parts thereof, on any day, during the hours or days indicated, where parking is restricted or prohibited, provided that these rules and regulations shall not apply to:
(1) 
Passenger vehicles stopped temporarily during the actual receiving or discharging of passengers.
(2) 
Commercial vehicles, as defined in § 375-1 of these rules and regulations, stopped for no more than 15 minutes, unless otherwise posted, for the loading or unloading of materials.
(3) 
Vehicles owned and bearing the indicia of ownership by the Town, state or federal government.
(4) 
Vehicles involved in an emergency situation.
C. 
Establishment of parking districts; map.
(1) 
For purposes of these regulations, there are hereby established three parking districts, which are shown on a map entitled "Nantucket Parking Districts Map," dated May 21, 2014, as amended, attached hereto and on file in the office of the Town Clerk. The Nantucket Parking Districts Map, together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby made a part of these regulations as Appendix L.[1] The three parking districts shown on the map include a Resident Parking Permit District, a Core Parking District and a Commercial Parking District.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix L is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2) 
Amendments to map.
(a) 
Authority. The Select Board has the authority to amend the Parking Districts Map by its own initiative or after having been presented with a petition including 51% of the owners of property located on the street or streets seeking to be added to or deleted from a parking district.
(b) 
Public hearing. In order to adopt such an amendment to the map, the Select Board shall hold a public hearing after having published a notice of the hearing in the newspaper of general circulation in the Town at least 21 days in advance of the hearing, and after having notified, by certified mail, all record owners of property abutting the named street or streets by advising said abutters as to the time, date, place and subject of the public hearing.
(c) 
Required findings. In order to adopt an amendment to the Parking Districts Map, the Select Board shall make the following findings as part of its decision:
[1] 
That the street is directly connected to a street which is already part of a district.
[2] 
That, in the case of additions to the Resident Parking Permit District, the street in question is used regularly for parking by significant numbers of persons who do not live in the immediate neighborhood, which causes a parking hardship for those living on the street during the summer.
[3] 
That the adoption of the amendment will further the purposes of the goals established by the Select Board as they relate to parking and the control of traffic.
(d) 
Notice to residents affected. In amendments involving changes to the Resident Parking Permit District, at least 15 days prior to becoming effective, notice shall be sent to each owner of property abutting the street or streets so affected, stating the occupants of that household are required to obtain a permit for each vehicle parking in excess of the posted time limit in the designated district and notifying the resident of the date that parking restrictions will become effective.
A. 
Where parking is not otherwise prohibited, no driver shall stand a vehicle except at an angle to the curb or edge of roadway, with the right front wheel to the curb or edge of roadway; except that in the left side of one-way roadways, no driver shall stand a vehicle except at an angle to the curb or edge of roadway, with the left front wheel to the curb or edge of roadway.
B. 
Where parallel parking is allowed, no driver shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle at an angle to the curb or edge of roadway unless otherwise posted.
A. 
Except as provided in Subsection C, no person shall park or stand any trailer of any kind or semi-trailer on any part of any public way under the control of the Town, unless such trailer or semi-trailer is attached to a vehicle capable of towing it.
B. 
Except as provided in Subsection C, no person shall park, or shall allow to be parked, a semi-trailer (or tractor), or combination thereof, or a trailer upon any public way for a period of more than four days without approval of the Board.
C. 
Any area designated by the Town, upon or adjacent to any public way, for the use of boat trailers may not comply with Subsection A, but in no case shall exceed the limitations of Subsection B.
D. 
No person shall park or stand any trailer of any kind or semi-trailer on any part of any designated municipal parking lot under the control of the Town except in an area designated by the Town.
Unless otherwise prohibited in these rules and regulations, the driver of a commercial vehicle, as defined in § 375-1 of these rules and regulations, may stand such vehicle with both rear wheels to the curb or edge of roadway, or with one rear wheel to the curb or edge of roadway and headed in the direction of traffic, for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of materials, provided that the nature of these materials requires such rear wheel parking; and further provided that such parking will leave a clear and unobstructed roadway at least 10 feet wide for moving traffic on one-way streets and 20 feet wide for moving traffic on two-way streets.
No driver shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle other than a bus in any area designated by the Town as a bus stop.
No driver shall stop, stand, or park any vehicle in any loading zone, with the following exceptions:
A. 
Commercial vehicles, as defined in § 375-1 of these rules and regulations, stopped for no more than 15 minutes, unless otherwise posted, or as required for a longer period of time, for the actual loading or unloading of materials, except during the hours when stopping or standing is prohibited.
B. 
Passenger vehicles stopped temporarily during the actual receiving or discharging of passengers.
C. 
Passenger vehicles stopped temporarily in front of a hotel or guesthouse, for not more than 10 minutes continuously, or as otherwise posted, while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or the expeditious loading or unloading of baggage, or while arrangements are being made for the removal of such vehicles, except during the hours when stopping or standing is prohibited.
D. 
Vehicles owned and bearing indicia of ownership by the Town, state or federal governments.
E. 
Taxis stopped for a maximum of 10 minutes continuously while in the process of making a pickup or delivery.
F. 
Vehicles involved in an emergency situation.
[Amended 1-22-2025, effective 4-15-2025]
A. 
No driver shall park or stand any vehicle for more than two hours continuously on any day during the hours indicated on a posted sign, provided that these rules and regulations shall not apply to commercial vehicles, as defined herein, stopped temporarily during the actual loading or unloading of materials as further defined herein.
B. 
This section of these rules and regulations shall not apply to vehicles bearing a resident parking permit sticker while parking within the Resident Parking Permit District.
C. 
This section of these rules and regulations shall not apply to vehicles bearing a temporary guest parking permit while parking within the Resident Parking Permit District.
D. 
This section of these rules and regulations shall not apply to vehicles bearing a temporary contractor work permit as issued herein as exempted while parking within the Core District or Resident Parking Permit District.
E. 
No driver shall park or stand any vehicle for more than one hour on any day during the hours indicated on a posted sign.
F. 
No driver shall park or stand any vehicle for more than 30 minutes continuously on any day during the hours indicated on a posted sign.
G. 
No driver shall park or stand any vehicle for more than 15 minutes continuously on any day during the hours indicated on a posted sign.
H. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle owned or registered in his/her name to be in the same parking spot for over 96 hours if no sign is posted with time restrictions.
I. 
The provisions of § 375-12 of these rules and regulations shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a disabled veteran or by a handicapped person and bearing a distinctive number plate or placard or handicap placard as issued by the Town or owned and bearing indicia of ownership by a foreign diplomatic corps or consulate.
J. 
For the purposes of § 375-12 of these rules and regulations, a vehicle shall be deemed to have been parked continuously if the vehicle has not been moved at least 50 feet to a different parking location upon or before the expiration of the parking time limit.
K. 
The Chief of Police, his/her designee, or the Board may enact temporary timed parking restrictions or relief from any timed parking restriction pursuant to these rules and regulations.
L. 
Except as otherwise prohibited by the Chief of Police as provided in §§ 375-2 and 375-12, a driver may, where permissible, register any vehicle with the Town-authorized parking management vendor to acquire additional time exceeding the time restriction indicated on a posted sign provided that a fee set from time to time by the Select Board has been paid to the Town.
[Amended 1-22-2025, effective 4-15-2025]
A. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to park within any municipal or any municipal paid parking lot in violation of any posted restriction, upon any traffic island or any other area not designated as a parking space.
B. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/ her name to park within any municipal parking lot between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., if posted, without a permit issued pursuant to these rules and regulations.
C. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to be parked within any municipal paid parking lot unless a parking fee, as established by the Select Board, has been paid to the Town.
D. 
No person shall allow, permit, operate, or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to park within the designated Town Pier municipal parking area spaces in violation of any posted restriction without a valid permit, when required, issued pursuant to these rules and regulations. Any vehicle so parked with a Town Pier parking permit shall be exempt from the overnight parking restriction in Subsection B.
E. 
No driver shall park or stand within any municipal parking or paid parking lot a vehicle of any type having a gross vehicle weight in excess of 12,000 pounds.
F. 
No person shall allow or permit any vehicle longer than 30 feet in total length to park within any municipal parking lot except in spaces designated and posted for such vehicles.
G. 
The Chief of Police, his/her designee, or the Board may enact temporary restrictions or relief from any restriction pursuant to these rules and regulations.
A. 
No driver shall park or stand any commercial vehicle or semi-trailer having a capacity of one ton or more for more than one hour between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one day and 8:00 a.m. of the following day, or at any time on Sunday, on any part of any public way where parking or standing a vehicle is not otherwise prohibited, provided that this subsection of these rules and regulations shall not apply during the loading or unloading of materials.
B. 
Parking of commercially registered vehicles is prohibited in the Commercial Parking District between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., except by permit, on any part of the way where parking or standing a vehicle is not otherwise prohibited, provided that this subsection of these rules and regulations shall not apply during the loading or unloading of materials.
A. 
No person shall park, store or deposit upon any public way of the Town a dumpster or any roll-on/roll-off container used for the collection of refuse, debris, or for any other purpose without a permit from the Town.
B. 
Any dumpster or any roll-on/roll-off container allowed by permit shall be placed upon the public way so that it will leave a clear and unobstructed way at least 10 feet wide for moving traffic on one-way streets and 20 feet wide for moving traffic on two-way streets. During the hours of darkness or during hours posted, the outermost edges of such dumpster and/or container shall be clearly marked with a flashing amber light or be permanently affixed with engineer-grade reflective material which shall be visible from any public way.
[Amended 1-21-2009; 5-21-2014; 10-22-2014; 12-17-2014; 2-17-2016; 3-16-2016; 6-22-2016; 12-20-2017; 1-22-2025, effective 4-15-2025]
A. 
The Police Department shall issue, upon submission of a proper application, submission of appropriate fees, satisfactory demonstration of qualification and after having made a determination of eligibility, the following permits:
(1) 
Residential parking permit. Where stopping, standing or parking is not otherwise prohibited within the Resident Parking Permit District, up to two permits shall be issued to owners of vehicles who own or rent dwellings which front on streets included in the Resident Parking Permit District or Core District, provided that fees in amounts set from time to time by the Select Board have been paid to the Town for applications submitted between January 1 and May 31 or for applications submitted between June 1 and December 31; the applicant shows satisfactory proof that he or she lives on a public way in one of the districts during the period between June 1 and September 30 of the year for which he/she is seeking a permit by using a tax bill, executed lease with a term greater than 90 days or other acceptable documentation as proof; and a valid registration card for the vehicle to be permitted is shown. Applicants who require additional permits may be issued a permit upon completion of an application as follows: For additional permits purchased between January 1 and January 31 by a resident of the Town who is shown as a resident of the Town upon the street where such additional permits are requested as determined by the Official Street List maintained by the Nantucket Town Clerk, the fee or any such additional permit shall be set from time to time by the Select Board; for additional permits by persons who do not appear on the Official Street List of the Town, and such additional permits are purchased between January 1 and May 31, the fee for each additional permit shall be set from time to time by the Select Board; for any additional permit purchased between June 1 and December 31, the fee shall be set from time to time by the Select Board for each permit. Vehicles which are owned by a corporate entity may be issued one residential parking permit when the vehicle being registered is owned by a corporate entity rather than the applicant. Corporate vehicle owners are not eligible for any additional parking permits under this section. Denial of permits for corporate vehicles can be appealed to the Select Board.
(2) 
Commercially registered vehicle permit. Owners of commercially registered vehicles, registered to a Nantucket address, not a post office box, who provide satisfactory proof that they are actively engaged in work between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. within the Commercial Parking District and require the use of their vehicle to perform said work may be issued a permit that allows a commercially registered vehicle to be parked in violation of any posted overnight time restrictions upon application by the owner or his/her agent and the payment of a fee set from time to time by the Select Board. Vehicles that have been issued a valid residential parking permit under Subsection A(1) of this section or a valid live-aboard parking permit under Subsection A(11) that otherwise qualify for a commercially registered vehicle permit shall have the fee waived for the commercially registered vehicle parking permit. Commercially registered vehicle permits shall be valid for the year in which they are issued only.
(3) 
Town Pier parking permit. Owners of vehicles that are awarded a slip on the Town Pier shall be eligible for a Town Pier parking permit. There shall be a limit of one permit per slip or one permit per family. In order to qualify for said permit, the applicant must present a completed application and a valid registration for the vehicle to which the permit will be affixed. All Town Pier rental fees must be fully paid prior to the issuance of the parking permit. The Town Pier parking permit shall be valid for the year in which it was issued. A new permit is required each subsequent year.
(4) 
Commercial vehicle Town lot permit. Owners of vehicles not otherwise qualified for a permit under Subsection A(2) of this section, registered to an off-Island address, shall be eligible for a commercial vehicle Town lot permit upon submission of an application and valid vehicle registration and payment of a fee set from time to time by the Select Board. Said permit is valid from the Monday after the first Saturday of December to the Friday before the last Saturday in April. Said permit allows the vehicle to be parked overnight in the municipal parking lots located at 37 Washington Street and Silver Street in compliance with § 375-13E of these rules and regulations.
(5) 
Silver Street parking permit. Owners of vehicles not otherwise qualified for a permit under Subsection A(1) who own or rent dwellings which front on West Dover Street are eligible for a permit for the purpose of parking in the Silver Street parking lot. Any vehicle so parked with a valid Silver Street parking permit shall be exempt from the overnight parking restrictions in § 375-13C.
(6) 
Guesthouse and hotel parking permit. Licensed guesthouses and hotels located in the Core District or Resident Parking Permit District may be issued, upon application by the owner or its agent and the payment of a fee set from time to time by the Select Board, a fixed number of reusable, transferable parking permit placards. Permit placards shall be issued at the rate of one placard for each three guest rooms, less the number of off-street parking spaces owned or leased by the guesthouse or hotel. Each placard shall be numbered and shall bear the name of the establishment. Placards shall be displayed on the dashboard of the guest vehicle above the speedometer while it is parked in the Resident Parking Permit District. Permit placards issued to the guesthouses and hotels shall only be considered valid when properly displayed in a vehicle owned or rented by a guest of the establishment and shall not be deemed valid when improperly displayed or displayed in vehicles of employees or others not temporarily residing in the guesthouse or hotel. Replacement of lost or stolen guesthouse or hotel placards shall be granted upon payment of a replacement fee set from time to time by the Select Board and upon the reporting of the number of the placard so lost or stolen.
(7) 
Temporary licensed contractor parking permit. Licensed contractors who are engaged in work within the Core District or the Resident Parking Permit District and who require the use of their vehicles to perform said work may be issued a temporary parking permit by the Town, provided that a fee set from time to time by the Select Board has been paid to the Town.
(8) 
Temporary residential parking permit. Operators of rented vehicles who own or rent dwellings which front on streets included in the Resident Parking Permit District or the Core District, and owners of vehicles who rent or hold a short-term lease for dwellings which front on streets included in the Resident Parking Permit District, may be issued a temporary residential parking permit for a period of time indicated on the permit, provided that a fee set from time to time by the Select Board has been paid to the Town; the applicant shows satisfactory proof that he/she owns or rents and resides in a dwelling which fronts on a public way in one of the districts during the period between June 1 and September 30 of the year for which the applicant is seeking a temporary permit by using a tax bill, an executed short-term lease with a term of 90 days or less, or other acceptable documentation as proof; and a valid vehicle rental/lease agreement or a valid registration card for the vehicle to be permitted is shown.
(9) 
Courtesy vehicle permit.
(a) 
Where stopping, standing or parking is not otherwise prohibited, permits may be, upon application, issued or reinstated to owners or operators of courtesy vehicles, subject to the following:
[1] 
The vehicle must be properly commercially registered and inspected in Massachusetts.
[2] 
The vehicle must be well maintained and in good condition.
[3] 
The vehicle must be clean inside and outside and be well-painted.
[4] 
The vehicle must have all wheels covered with hubcaps.
(b) 
The annual fee (January 1 through December 31) for a courtesy vehicle permit shall be set from time to time by the Select Board. Permits so issued shall be displayed pursuant to Subsection B(2). If the permit is lost or suspended pursuant to Subsection F, a replacement/reinstatement fee set from time to time by the Select Board shall apply.
(10) 
Live-aboard parking permit. Owners of vehicles who live full-time aboard a vessel moored on a Town-licensed mooring shall be eligible for up to three "live-aboard" parking permits under this section, provided that a fee set from time to time by the Select Board has been paid to the Town; the applicant shows satisfactory proof that he/she lives full-time on a vessel moored within the Nantucket Harbor anchorage for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks and that the vessel is properly documented by the U.S. Coast Guard or properly registered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and tied to a permitted mooring during the period the applicant is seeking a permit and that a valid motor vehicle registration is shown for each vehicle. The signature of the Harbormaster is required to verify proof of full-time live-aboard status. Said permit is valid only for the municipal parking lot at 37 Washington Street.
(11) 
Waitt Drive residential parking permit. Owners of vehicles who own or rent dwellings which front on Waitt Drive, including residents of 6 Fairgrounds Road, are eligible for a permit for the purpose of parking in designated parking spaces on Waitt Drive.
B. 
Proper display of permits.
(1) 
Adhesive stickers shall be inscribed with the license plate number of the so-permitted vehicle and shall be affixed to the left rear bumper of the vehicle so as to be easily seen.
(2) 
Placard permits shall be inscribed with the license plate number of the so-permitted vehicle or the name of the business or organization to which the permit is issued. Any conditions imposed on the use of the permit by the permit-issuing authority shall be clearly indicated on the permit. Said permits shall be clearly displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle above the speedometer while it is parked in the area requiring a permit. Copies of placard permits shall not be considered valid.
C. 
Validity. Such permits shall be valid only for the vehicle for which or organization to which it was originally issued. Permits are not transferable from one vehicle to another under any circumstances. Permits shall only be valid for the period of time indicated on the permit.
D. 
There must be no unpaid parking tickets issued to the registration of the vehicle to be eligible to receive any permit issued under Subsection A(2), (7), (10) and (11) of this section.
E. 
Misuse of parking permits. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly represent that he/she is entitled to a parking permit issued under this section when he/she is not so entitled. It shall also be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle displaying such permit in the Resident Parking Permit District or the Commercial Parking District when the holder of such permit is not entitled to hold it. Whenever the conditions which qualified a resident for a resident parking permit no longer exist, the owner of the vehicle so permitted shall immediately cross out his/her permit sticker with a heavy black marker so as to invalidate the permit. Whenever the conditions which qualified a holder of a temporary permit no longer exist, the permit shall be removed from the vehicle. After having crossed out or removed the permit in this manner, the vehicle may be parked in the Resident Parking Permit District or the Commercial Parking District lawfully subject to the time limits in place. Any of the above-mentioned misuse violations shall be punishable by a fine as set forth in Appendix J, Schedule of Fines,[1] each day of violation being considered a separate offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix J is included as an attachment to this chapter.
F. 
Courtesy vehicle operation. Operators of courtesy vehicles shall adhere to all traffic laws and regulations pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles. Such operators shall present a clean and neat appearance and not be smoking. For violations of this subsection, in addition to any penalty specified under law or these regulations, the courtesy vehicle permit may be suspended by the Police Chief or designee until payment of the reinstatement fee under Subsection A(10).
Parking restrictions indicated by the presence of official traffic signs shall be interpreted in the following manner:
A. 
The direction to which a parking restriction applies may be indicated by the placing of arrows on the sign(s).
(1) 
On any public way, a sign without arrows, or a sign on which arrows are placed which point both to the left and right, shall indicate that the parking restriction applies in both directions.
(2) 
On a two-way street, a sign with an arrow which points to the left indicates that the parking restriction applies only to the parking from that point forward of the sign ("forward" refers to the direction of vehicle travel on that side of the street).
(3) 
On a two-way street, a sign with an arrow which points to the right indicates that the parking restriction applies only to the parking from that point backward of the sign ("backward" refers to the opposite direction of vehicle travel on that side of the street).
(4) 
On the right-hand side of a one-way street, a sign with an arrow which points to the left indicates that the parking restriction applies only to the parking from that point forward of the sign ("forward" refers to the direction of vehicle travel on that side of the street).
(5) 
On the right-hand side of a one-way street, a sign with an arrow which points to the right indicates that the parking restriction applies only to the parking from that point backward of the sign ("backward" refers to the opposite direction of vehicle travel on that side of the street).
(6) 
On the left-hand side of a one-way street, a sign with an arrow which points to the left indicates that the parking restriction applies only to the parking from that point backward of the sign ("backward" refers to the opposite direction of vehicle travel on that side of the street).
(7) 
On the left-hand side of a one-way street, a sign with an arrow which points to the right indicates that the parking restriction applies only to the parking from that point forward of the sign ("forward" refers to the direction of vehicle travel on that side of the street).
B. 
A parking restriction which is indicated by the placement of an official traffic sign shall continue in effect until another parking restriction is indicated by the placement of an official traffic sign.
C. 
Official traffic signs which indicate the existence of either "Street Cleaning" or "Snow Emergency" restrictions shall apply to the entire public way, regardless of the existence of other posted restrictions or valid parking spaces.
D. 
Temporary official traffic signs placed on a public way for the purposes of construction or special events shall take precedence over all other posted parking restrictions and metered spaces in the public way.
E. 
The placement of official traffic signs which would otherwise permit the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles shall not be construed as permission to stop, stand or park a motor vehicle in violation of any regulation which does not require the placement of an official traffic sign, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Parking upon any crosswalk;
(2) 
Parking within 20 feet of an intersecting way;
(3) 
Parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant;
(4) 
Parking in front of any driveway; and
(5) 
Parking in front of a ramp designed for use by handicapped persons.
[Amended 1-22-2025, effective 4-15-2025]
A. 
The lapse of each posted time restriction shall constitute a separate offense. In addition, any vehicle which, while parked or standing in the same approximate location, violates a time restriction after having already received two successive time restriction violations of the posted time limit may be towed and removed by the Nantucket Police Department.
B. 
For municipal lots requiring an overnight permit, the lapse of each posted overnight restriction shall constitute a separate offense. Any vehicle, while parked or standing in the same approximate location, that violates an overnight restriction after having already received two successive violations of overnight parking restrictions between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. may be towed and removed by the Nantucket Police Department if the vehicle has not moved and a second violation has been issued 24 hours and the third violation after 48 hours after the original violation.
C. 
For municipal paid parking lots, vehicles that have exceeded their paid amount of time within a municipal paid parking lot is a timed parking violation. Vehicles that continue unpaid and remain in the lot beyond a twenty-four-hour period after the first overtime violation are subject to a second timed parking violation. Subsequent timed parking violations occur after each twenty-four-hour period has elapsed. Vehicles may be towed in accordance with Subsection A of this section.
On certain public ways or parts thereof, vehicles shall operate only in the direction as authorized by an official traffic sign. The list of public ways or parts thereof where the direction of vehicles is restricted and are designated as "one-way streets" is included in Appendix A of these rules and regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
All vehicular traffic shall move in a rotary only in a counter-clockwise direction, except when otherwise directed by a police officer or an official traffic sign, signal, marking or other device, erected and maintained, or caused to be made, erected and maintained by the Town.
A. 
Drive within marked lanes. When any roadway has been divided into lanes, the driver of a vehicle shall not drive other than entirely within a single lane, and he/she shall not move from the lane in which he/she is driving until he/she has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety.
B. 
Drive on right side of street. The driver of a vehicle shall not drive other than on the right half of the roadway, except on one-way streets, where signs have been erected to the contrary, or when overtaking and passing another vehicle or when preparing for a left turn. The driver of a slow-moving vehicle shall not drive other than as closely as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, unless it is impracticable to travel on such side of a public way.
C. 
Keep to the right of public way division. On a roadway divided by a grass plot, traffic island, walk, or other structure, the driver of a vehicle shall not drive other than to the right of such division, except on one-way streets, or when otherwise directed by a police officer or any official sign, signal, marking, or device.
D. 
Overtaking other vehicles. The driver of a vehicle shall not overtake and pass any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction at any intersection of public ways, except that this provision shall not apply at intersections where traffic is controlled by a police officer.
E. 
Overtake only when there is a space ahead. The driver of a vehicle shall not overtake and pass a vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless there is sufficient clear space ahead on the right side of the roadway, except that on a one-way street drivers shall not be restricted to the use of the right half of the roadway, but may have access to the entire width thereof, to permit the overtaking to be completed without impeding the safe operation of any vehicle ahead, and without causing the driver of any vehicle to change his/her speed or alter his/her course, except as provided in Subsection F of this section.
F. 
Driver to give way to overtaking vehicle. Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of a vehicle, when about to be overtaken and passed by another vehicle approaching from the rear, shall give way to the right when practicable in favor of the overtaking vehicle, and shall not increase the speed of his/her vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
G. 
Obstructing traffic.
(1) 
No person shall drive in such a manner as to unnecessarily obstruct the normal movement of traffic on any public way.
(2) 
No driver of any vehicle shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space beyond the intersection or crosswalk and on the right half of the roadway to accommodate the vehicle he/she is driving without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians.
H. 
Care in starting, stopping, turning, or backing. The driver of any vehicle shall not start, stop, turn from a direct line, or back his/her vehicle unless such movement can be made safely. If such movement cannot be made safely, or if it interferes unduly with the normal movement of other traffic, said driver shall wait for a more favorable opportunity to make such movement.
I. 
Backing around corners or into intersections prohibited. The driver of any vehicle shall not back such vehicle around a corner at an intersection or into an intersection of streets.
J. 
Left turns prohibited. No driver of any vehicle shall make a left turn where prohibited by an official traffic sign, signal, marking or other device erected and maintained, or caused to be made, erected and maintained, by the Town.
K. 
Only left turn movements permitted. No driver of any vehicle shall proceed in any direction other than to the left, at the points of intersection, where prohibited by an official traffic sign, signal, marking or other device erected and maintained, or caused to be made, erected and maintained, by the Town.
L. 
Right turns prohibited. No driver of any vehicle shall make a right turn where prohibited by an official traffic sign, signal, marking or other device erected and maintained, or caused to be made, erected and maintained, by the Town.
M. 
Only right turn movements permitted. No driver of any vehicle shall proceed in any direction other than to the right, at the points of intersection, where prohibited by an official traffic sign, signal, marking or other device erected and maintained, or caused to be made, erected and maintained, by the Town.
N. 
Obedience to lane control devices. Where official traffic control devices are erected directing specific vehicles to use a designated lane or lanes for traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the center of the roadway, or to prohibit a turn or to make a required turn at an intersection of roadways, drivers of vehicles shall obey the direction of every such device. For example: "Right Lane Must Turn Right" and "Left Lane Must Turn Left."
O. 
U-turns regulated. No driver shall turn a vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction unless such turn can be made without backing up and without causing any approaching driver to decrease speed or change his/her course.
P. 
U-turns prohibited. No driver shall make a U-turn where prohibited by an official traffic sign, signal, marking or other device erected and maintained, or caused to be made, erected and maintained, by the Town.
Q. 
Obedience to isolated stop signs. In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 89, § 9, as most recently amended, certain streets are designated as "stop streets." The list of streets or parts thereof where the direction of vehicles is restricted and are designated as "stop streets" is included in Appendix B of these rules and regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix B is included as an attachment to this chapter.
R. 
Obedience to yield signs. In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 89, § 9, as most recently amended, certain public ways are designated as "yield streets." The list of streets or parts thereof where the direction of vehicles is restricted and are designated as "yield streets" is included in Appendix C of these rules and regulations.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix C is included as an attachment to this chapter.
S. 
Driving on sidewalks or bicycle paths. The driver of a vehicle shall not drive on or over any sidewalk or bicycle path except at a permanent or temporary driveway or at an intersection of streets. The driver of a vehicle, prior to driving on or over any such driveway, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or bicycle approaching within five feet of such driveway.
T. 
Driving over traffic islands prohibited. The driver of a vehicle shall not drive on or over any traffic island unless directed to do so by a police officer.
U. 
Driving through safety zones prohibited. No driver of any vehicle shall drive into, over or through a safety zone, except on signal from a police officer.
V. 
Emerging from a private road or driveway. The driver of a vehicle emerging from a private way, driveway, or garage shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving upon the sidewalk or bicycle path area extending across the front of such driveway or garage, and where no such sidewalk exists, the stop shall be made at the building or property line as the case may be. Upon entering the roadway, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to approaching vehicles.
W. 
Special speed rules and regulations.
(1) 
In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 18, special speed restrictions have been established on certain streets. The list of streets or parts thereof where the speed of vehicles is regulated is included in Appendix D of these rules and regulations.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Appendix D is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2) 
In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 17, a special school zone speed restriction of 20 miles per hour has been established on certain public ways. The list of streets or parts thereof which have been designated as "school zones" is included in Appendix E of these rules and regulations.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: Appendix E is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(3) 
In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 17C, the Town has established 25 miles per hour as the speed limit inside thickly settled or business district areas in the Town, as defined in MGL c. 90, § 1.
[Added 12-20-2017]
X. 
Rights and duties in funeral or other processions.
(1) 
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 to follow the vehicle ahead as closely as is practicable and safe.
(2) 
At an intersection where a stop sign or yield sign is located, the driver of the first vehicle in a funeral or other procession shall be the only one governed by the traffic signal indication or the stop or yield sign, and after the first vehicle enters the intersection, all other vehicles in the procession must proceed together in a group.
Y. 
Operation of horse-drawn carriages.
(1) 
No owner of a horse-drawn carriage shall begin operating a horse-drawn carriage for hire until he/she has obtained the necessary license and paid the required fee to the Town.
(2) 
The Town may designate an area within the roadway to serve as a stand if such space is available and practicable.
(3) 
Each "stand" will be designated by a minimum of two signs.
(4) 
No driver of any horse-drawn carriage shall operate any carriage under his/her control other than as closely as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway.
(5) 
No driver of any horse-drawn carriage shall operate any carriage under his/her control in violation of any of the regulations of the Town.
(6) 
No driver of any horse-drawn carriage shall operate any carriage under his/her control in certain public ways or parts thereof, during the hours indicated. The list of public ways or parts thereof where the operation of horse-drawn carriages is restricted and/or the hours are regulated is included in Appendix F of these rules and regulations.[5]
[5]
Editor's Note: Appendix F is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A. 
Advertising vehicles excluded. No person shall drive or park in the Core District any vehicle designed or used primarily for the purpose of advertising.
B. 
Heavy commercial vehicles excluded. No heavy commercial vehicle shall be operated on certain public ways or parts thereof. This restriction shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles, as herein defined in § 375-1 of these rules and regulations, to vehicles using streets for the making of deliveries or collections or for the purpose of reaching a regular storage place located on said streets or parts thereof, to street repair vehicles of the Town, nor to any commercial vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires with a load capacity not over 2 1/2 tons and without a trailer. The list of public ways or parts thereof designated by the Town as excluding heavy commercial vehicles is included in Appendix G of these rules and regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix G is included as an attachment to this chapter.
C. 
Commercial vehicles excluded. No commercial vehicle shall be operated on certain public ways or parts thereof. This restriction shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles, as herein defined in § 375-1 of the rules and regulations, to passenger vehicles whose gross weight is less than 5,000 pounds and which are registered for commercial use, to vehicles using public ways for the making of deliveries or collections or for the purpose of reaching a regular storage place located on said public ways or parts thereof, nor to street repair vehicles of the Town. The list of public ways or parts thereof which have been designated as excluding commercial vehicles is included in Appendix H of the rules and regulations.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix H is included as an attachment to this chapter.
D. 
Exclusion of vehicles from public ways. Vehicles are excluded from certain public ways. The list of public ways or parts thereof which have been designated by the Town as excluding vehicles is included in Appendix I of these rules and regulations.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Appendix I is included as an attachment to this chapter.
No person shall take part in any parade, procession or other organized formation of persons or vehicles, other than a funeral procession or a picket line, in or upon any public way under the control of the Town unless the Town shall have first issued a permit for such parade, procession, or formation. The Town shall issue such permit in all cases except where the time, place, and manner are not in conformity with the provisions set forth below or where the permit would conflict as to time or place with a permit previously issued.
A. 
The written request for the permit shall be filed with the Town not more than 12 months or less than three business days prior to the occurrence and should include the following:
(1) 
The date and starting time.
(2) 
The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant and name of the organization involved.
(3) 
The formation or assembly area and time therefor.
(4) 
The route of the parade or motorcade and what portions of the streets traversed may be occupied by such parade, procession, or formation.
(5) 
The approximate number of people and vehicles in the parade or motorcade.
B. 
No permit shall be issued authorizing a parade, procession, or formation under the following conditions:
(1) 
When the sole purpose is advertising any product, goods, wares, merchandise, event, or the parade, procession or formation is designed to be held for private profit.
(2) 
Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in areas that are principally residential.
C. 
The Police Chief or designee may modify the requested route or time of a parade under the following conditions:
(1) 
When the size of the parade, based upon the expected number of participants and spectators, cannot be safely accommodated on the proposed route because of the capacity of the roadway or other conditions.
(2) 
When the route or time conflicts with another parade or other public event to such an extent that public order or safety is threatened. The determination shall be based upon the inability of the roadway to safely accommodate the expected number of participants and spectators; or the inability to develop safe traffic detours because of the street configuration and traffic congestion in the area.
(3) 
Any modification of the route or the time shall be narrowly tailored to address the conditions and shall be done in consultation with the permit applicant unless the applicant is unavailable or declines to consult with the Police Chief.
(4) 
Any modification to the requested route or time, or any determination by the Police Chief or designee, shall be in writing to the applicant and shall set forth a basis for such determination.
The posting of signs which prohibit or restrict parking due to construction or special events shall be conducted in the following manner:
A. 
All signs shall conform to Town specifications. The exact legend on each sign shall be determined by the Police Chief or designee.
B. 
All signs shall indicate the effective date and estimated completion date of the construction project or special event.
C. 
All signs shall be installed at locations as determined by the Police Chief or designee.
D. 
All signs shall indicate the effective hours of the regulation, if the regulation is not in effect 24 hours.
E. 
All signs shall be installed a minimum of 24 hours in commercial areas and 48 hours in residential areas before the effective date and time of the restriction.
For purposes of trial, the Board may make temporary rules regulating traffic or test under actual conditions traffic signs, signals, markings, or other devices. No such temporary or experimental rule regulating traffic shall remain in effect for a period of time longer than 60 days.
A. 
Penalties. Whoever violates any of the provisions of these rules and regulations, or whoever violates any temporary or experimental rule, shall be punished by a fine amount set forth in Appendix J of these rules and regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix J is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B. 
Parking violation notice. Officers empowered to enforce these rules and regulations shall use the standard town parking violation notice for said violation.
C. 
Noncriminal violation citation. Officers authorized to enforce these rules and regulations may use the standard Town noncriminal violation notice for violations which regulate the movement of vehicles.
The provisions of these rules and regulations are hereby declared to be severable; and if any provision of these rules and regulations is invalid, such invalidity shall not affect or impair any other provision hereof.
The Town is authorized to regulate the weights of vehicles on Nantucket Island pursuant to Chapter 372 of the Special Acts of 1954 and the dimensions and number of certain vehicles driven or operating in the Town pursuant to Chapter 321 of the Special Acts of 1995, as set forth in Appendix K.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix K is included as an attachment to this chapter.