[Adopted 9-3-1985; amended 1-7-1986 (Ch. 10, Art. V, of the 1985 Code of Ordinances)]
A. 
The Town Council of the Town of Smithfield is hereby authorized to establish fire lanes on private property devoted to public use. The Town Council will act on such requests as presented to them by the Chief of the Fire Department. Such requests prior to arriving at the Town Council will have the approval of the Chief of the Fire Department and the Chief of police.
B. 
The designation of such lanes shall never be held to make the Town responsible for maintenance of such fire lanes, but the owner of such property shall continue to be responsible for the maintenance of such area.
A. 
Upon the designation of a fire lane pursuant to this Part 3, the Traffic Safety Commission shall give notice of such designation to the owner of such area directing the owner to cause signs to be posted at the expense of the owner at designated locations as follows:
FIRE LANE - NO PARKING ANYTIME - TOW ZONE
B. 
Such signs shall be of a standard size and color and of standard lettering and mounting conforming to specifications established by the Traffic Safety Commission and shall contain a notice as to the maximum penalty for violations. The Traffic Safety Commission shall also give notice to the owner directing the owner to cause such fire lane to be designated, painted and striped in accordance with the specifications of the Traffic Safety Commission.
The official record of the designation and location of fire lanes shall be kept in the office of the Traffic Safety Commission and by Chief of the Fire Department.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any motor vehicle to park the same in any portion of any area designated as a fire lane. It shall be unlawful for a property owner to fail to comply with a directive from the Traffic Safety Commission under § 198-144 hereof. Each day of noncompliance with such a directive shall be deemed a separate offense. Violators of any of the provisions of this Part 3 shall be subject to a fine of $5 for each offense.
A vehicle illegally parked or disabled in a fire lane may be towed away at the expense of the owner.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: State law reference - Removal of vehicles, G.L. 1956, § 31-22-13 et seq.