The Police Department, acting therein by its
Chief, as directed by the Board, is hereby authorized to direct and
regulate traffic on the streets of the Town and may, on the occasion
of parades, public receptions, fire or police activities or on other
occasions when emergency conditions exist, impose reasonable parking
and no-parking restrictions in addition to such parking restrictions
and regulations as may have been adopted by the Board.
The Police Department, acting therein by its
Chief, as approved by the Board, may place upon the highways appropriate
signs to inform the public of the restrictions imposed by or under
the authority of this chapter and may, by signs, painted lines upon
the highway or by any other manner deemed sufficient and proper by
the Police Department, indicate the direction and position in which
vehicles shall stand upon the streets.
The provisions of this chapter dealing with
the movement and parking of vehicles shall not apply to ambulances
or to police, fire department, fire patrol, civil defense or United
States mail vehicles while such vehicles are performing in an official
capacity in a reasonable manner.
No person driving or controlling a vehicle shall
stop or park or cause or permit the same to be stopped or parked within
the intersection of any street; within 25 feet of an intersection
or a marked crosswalk thereat; or within 25 feet of a duly erected
stop sign. No vehicle shall be permitted to stop or remain stationary
within the limits of a public highway in such manner as to constitute
a traffic hazard or obstruct the free movement of traffic thereon;
provided a vehicle which has become disabled to such an extent that
it is impossible or impracticable to remove it may be permitted to
so remain for a reasonable time for the purpose of making repairs
thereto, or of obtaining sufficient assistance to remove it. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to prohibit a vehicle from stopping
or being held stationary by any police officer in the line of duty
or in an emergency to avoid accident or to give the right-of-way to
any vehicle or pedestrian as provided by law.
Any person who shall receive a parking ticket
from the Police Department that said vehicle was parked beyond the
legal parking time established for such area shall pay to the Clerk
of the Police Department the sum of $5 within 30 days from the violation.
A yearly winter parking ban will become effective
November 15 of each year and shall continue to April 15 of the following
year. This parking ban prohibits on-street parking between the hours
of 2:00 a.m. through 6:00 a.m. so that snowplowing, when required,
will not be impeded. Parking warnings will be issued during the first
week, and, effective November 22, parking tickets may be issued. Any
person who shall receive a parking ticket from the Police Department
to the effect that said vehicle was parked during this prohibited
time frame shall pay to the Clerk of the Police Department the sum
of $10 within 30 days from such violation.
In any prosecution or proceeding under §
107-6,
107-7,
107-8 or
107-9, the registration plate displayed on the motor of the vehicle shall constitute in evidence prima facie presumption that the owner of such vehicle, or his agent with his permission, was the person who parked such vehicle at the place where such violation occurred.
The Board may create one or more motor vehicle impoundment areas (pounds) to which motor vehicles may be removed at the direction of any police officer of the Town for the causes specified in §
107-12. The pounds so created hereunder shall be public storage garages or such other appropriate places as shall be designated by the Board. The Board may, in its discretion, utilize the Police Department facility, the secured area only, as the only pound or as one of the pounds. Before any garage or other place of storage shall be designated by the Board as a motor vehicle pound for the purposes hereof, the operator thereof shall furnish the Town with evidence of insurance coverage which shall be adequate to protect the Town against liability for any claim for damages arising out of the towing or storage of any impounded vehicle.
In case protest is made to the Police Department
against the impounding or storage fee of a vehicle towed away and
impounded pursuant to this chapter, the vehicle may be released upon
evidence of ownership to the claimant upon the furnishing of a lien
fee in an amount equal to the towing charge plus $5 per day storage
fee, and the claimant shall pay any accumulated fees for any previous
violations, and if done, such claimant shall be issued a uniform traffic
ticket to answer to the violations of the Town or ordinance on account
of which such vehicle has been impounded. If, after the proper hearing
in the state Superior Court, a finding of not guilty is entered, then
such lien fee shall be returned. If, however, a finding of guilty
is entered, then such lien fee shall be turned over to the Comptroller
of the Town.