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:
BUS STOP
Any area in the roadway set aside for the boarding of, or alighting from, and the parking of buses.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
Any vehicle being used in the transportation of goods, wares or merchandise for commercial purposes.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, HEAVY
Any commercial vehicle having an actual capacity of 2 1/2 tons or over.
CROSSWALK
That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of curblines and property lines at intersections or at any portions of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines on the road surface or by other markings or signs.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
Vehicles of the Fire Department, 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.
FUNERAL
Any procession of mourners, properly identified as such, accompanying the remains of a human body.
INTERSECTION
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 contained in this chapter 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.
LANE
A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.
OFFICER
Any officer, any investigator, examiner or inspector of the Registry of Motor Vehicles or any constable or special officer, provided that he/she is in uniform and has his/her badge of office displayed over his/her left breast and upon his/her outer garment.
OFFICIAL CURB MARKING
That portion of a curbing the painting of which has been authorized by the Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works and which has the written approval of the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth.
OFFICIAL STREET MARKING
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 Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works and which has the written approval of the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGN
All signs, traffic islands, markings and devices, other than signals, not inconsistent with this chapter, and which conform to standards prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth and are erected by authority of a public body or official having official jurisdiction for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning or regulating traffic.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL
All signals conforming to the standards as prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the commonwealth, not inconsistent with this chapter, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of directing or warning traffic.
PARKING
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.
PARKING METER
Any mechanical device, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, placed or erected on any public way within the City for the regulation of parking. Each parking meter installed shall indicate by proper legend the legal parking time established by ordinance of the City and, when operated, shall at all times indicate the balance of legal parking time permitted and at the expiration of such period shall indicate illegal or overtime parking.
PARKING METER SPACE
Any space within a parking meter zone adjacent to a parking meter which is duly designated for the parking of a single vehicle by lines painted on the surface of the street adjacent to or adjoining each parking meter.
PARKING METER ZONE
Any street or portion thereof upon which parking meters are installed and in operation and upon which the parking of vehicles is permitted for a limited time subject to compliance with the further provisions of this chapter.
PEDESTRIAN
Any person afoot or riding a conveyance moved by human power, except bicycles or tricycles.
RAILROAD CROSSING
Any intersection of ways with a railroad right-of-way.
ROADWAY
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.
SERVICE ZONE
An area in the roadway set aside for the accommodation of commercial and transient vehicular traffic.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a street or highway set aside for pedestrian travel.
STREET OR HIGHWAY
The entire width between property lines of every way open to the use of the public for purposes of travel.
TAXICAB STAND
An area in a roadway in which certain taxicabs are required to park while waiting to be engaged.
TRAFFIC
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars or other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street or highway for the purpose of travel.
TRAFFIC CONTROL AREA
Any area along any way, other than an intersecting way, at which drivers are to be controlled by traffic control signals.
TRAFFIC ISLAND
An area of space set aside within a roadway or municipal off-street parking area which is not intended for use by vehicular traffic.
VEHICLE
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 this chapter 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.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-1; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-1)
A. 
All of the territory within 200 feet of the premises of each hospital in this City is hereby created and established as a zone of quiet. The Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works is hereby authorized to erect and maintain in a conspicuous manner within this area such signs and markings as are necessary to designate it as a zone of quiet.
B. 
The Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works may temporarily establish a zone of quiet upon any street where a person is seriously ill, if requested to do so by written statement of at least two registered physicians certifying to its necessity. Such temporary zone of quiet shall embrace all territory within a radius of 200 feet of the building occupied by the person named in the request of such physicians. Such temporary zones of quiet shall be designated by the police by placing at a conspicuous place in the street a sign or marker bearing the words "Zone of Quiet."
C. 
No person operating a motor vehicle within any designated and signed zone of quiet shall sound the horn or other warning device of such vehicle except in an emergency, nor shall any person make loud or unusual noise or play any music within or upon any of the streets, alleys or public places in any such zone of quiet.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-3; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-3)
Every person operating a motor vehicle which is in any manner involved in an accident in which any person is killed or injured or in which there is damage in excess of $200 to any one vehicle or other property shall report such accident, within five days, to the Registrar and to the Police Department in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 26.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-4; Ord. No. 20325, 12-3-1979; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-4)
For purposes 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 emergency or experimental rule regulating traffic shall remain in effect for a period of time longer than 60 days.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-5; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-5)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to operators 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 or 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 this chapter. These exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard for the safety of others.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-6; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-6)
If any vehicle is found upon any street or highway in violation of the 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.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-7; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-7)
As provided under provisions of MGL c. 90, § 20A 1/2, which was accepted by the Board of Aldermen on December 23, 1981, there is hereby established the following schedule of fines for the offenses subject to this section:
A. 
Any person convicted of a violation of any rule, regulation or order made under this chapter shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $20 for each offense, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
B. 
Pursuant to the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 20A 1/2, any person violating any provisions of any rule, regulation, order or ordinance regulating the parking of motor vehicles shall be punished by a fine for each offense as hereinafter set forth:
(1) 
Group A, punishable by a fine of $25 for each offense:
(a) 
Meter violation.
(b) 
Meter overtime (feeding meter).
(2) 
Group B, punishable by a fine of $25 for each offense:
(a) 
Parking on sidewalk.
(b) 
Parking within five feet of driveway or private way.
(c) 
Wrong direction parking.
(d) 
Not parking within marked space.
(e) 
Overtime parking (except at meter).
(f) 
Parking more than 12 inches from curb.
(g) 
Parking between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(h) 
More than two hours (resident permit required).
(i) 
R.R. parking permit or unpaid space.
(j) 
Two hours or municipal parking permit required.
(k) 
Parked overtime (restricted time).
(l) 
Two hours or daytime permit required.
(m) 
Other.
(3) 
Group C, punishable by a fine of $25 for each offense:
(a) 
Parking in restricted area.
(b) 
Parking within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
(c) 
Parking within 20 feet of intersection.
(d) 
Parking or stopping in bus stop.
(e) 
Interfering with free flow of traffic.
(f) 
Overtime parking in taxi stand (over 30 minutes).
(g) 
Parking in an area designated as a fire lane.
(h) 
Parking so as to block or obstruct a crosswalk or within 10 feet of the outer limits of a crosswalk.
(i) 
Parking so as to block or obstruct any portion of the sidewalk.
(j) 
Stopped in the travel lane of the street or double parking.
(k) 
Stopped or parked in a taxi space.
(l) 
Opposite driveway (posted no parking).
(m) 
Interfering with snow plowing (any street).
(n) 
Resident permit required.
(4) 
Group D, punishable by a fine of $50 for each offense:
(a) 
Obstructing snow removal (towable).
(b) 
Parking a vehicle having six wheels or more on any street or parking area for a period in excess of one hour.
(c) 
Parking so as to block a fire hydrant (towable).
(5) 
Group E, punishable by a fine of $50 for each offense:
(a) 
Snow emergency, main arteries (towable).
(6) 
Group F, punishable by a fine of $150 for each offense:
(a) 
Parking in an area designated for handicapped parking by a vehicle not bearing a handicapped license plate or numbered Registry of Motor Vehicles handicapped parking permit.
(b) 
Parking in such a manner as to obstruct a handicapped ramp.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-8; Ord. No. 20259, 5-21-1979; Ord. No. 17, 2-1-1982; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-8; Ord. No. 92-147, 1-21-1992; Ord. No. 92-246, 3-16-1992; Ord. No. 93-211, 2-16-1993; Ord. No. 97-78, 1-6-1997; Ord. No. 02-365, 6-17-2002; Ord. No. 08-227, 5-5-2008; Ord. No. TC-22-2-02, 6-15-2022)
All charges for parking fines shall be committed forthwith by the Police Department to the City Collector for collection, and, whenever charges are so committed, such Department shall file with the City Auditor a report, in writing, of the total amount of the charges in each such commitment. The Department shall forthwith give notice, in writing, to the City Collector and the City Auditor of every correction in, and abatement of, a charge for parking fines.
(Ord. No. 18, 2-1-1982; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-9)
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in the foregoing rules and regulations or by statute or by any commission, department or other body authorized by law to impose penalties for violations of rules, regulations and orders governing the use and operation of vehicles, any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of the foregoing rules and regulations or of any temporary or experimental rules or regulations made under authority of § 220-5 shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $20 for each offense.
B. 
Failure to pay a motor vehicle violation notice within 21 days will automatically increase the fines by $5.00 for each offense plus and applicable Registry of Motor Vehicles fines.
C. 
Fines thereafter will be $45.
(Rev. Ords. 1976, § 12-9; Ord. No. 19, 2-1-1982; Rev. Ords. 1989, § 10-10; Ord. No. 92-147A, 3-2-1992; Ord. No. TC 21-6-03, 12-15-2021)