No provision of this chapter for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that signs are required, such section shall be effective without signs being erected to give notice thereof.
A. 
No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, and no person shall place or maintain any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising. This shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.
B. 
Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left turn or U-turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign; and when authorized marks, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning thereat, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of such indications.
[Amended 9-16-2002; 9-2-2003]
Purpose. The Saco City Council finds that excessive sound on public ways may cause distraction to other drivers and preclude the safe operation of motor vehicles to the detriment of the general public. Furthermore, the making, creation or maintenance of loud, unnecessary, excessive, annoying, distracting or unnatural sound is an unreasonable infringement upon the public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity of the residents of the City. Accordingly, it is the policy of the City of Saco to prohibit the aforementioned types of sound on public ways within the City.
A. 
No person, while occupying any public way in the City, shall operate any sound-creating device in such a manner that the sound is greater than is reasonable with due regard to the location of the device, the time of day, or the effect on persons in proximity to the device.
B. 
The prohibitions of this section shall include, but not be limited to, the following activities or conduct:
(1) 
Sounding a horn, bell, whistle or other device in a manner that is unreasonable or unnecessary.
(2) 
Rapid throttle advance and/or revving of an internal combustion engine resulting in a harsh or objectionable sound from the engine.
(3) 
The use or operation of any engine brake, compression brake, or mechanical exhaust device, unless necessary to stop a vehicle in an emergency. This provision shall not apply to public safety vehicles.
C. 
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating a “quiet zone,” no person operating a motor vehicle within any such zone shall sound the horn or other warning device of the vehicle, except in an emergency.
D. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following activities or conduct:
(1) 
Expression or communication protected by the United States Constitution, including the first amendment, or the Maine Constitution.
(2) 
Any activity or conduct the regulation of which has been preempted by Maine statute.
(3) 
Any sound created by a governmental entity in the performance of an official duty.
(4) 
Any sound for which a permit has been issued by an authority having jurisdiction to issue the permit.
(5) 
The sounding of any signaling device permitted by law.
Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating any street or part thereof is a play street, no person shall drive a vehicle upon any such street or portion thereof except drivers of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area, and then any said driver shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any said street or portion thereof.
Whenever traffic is controlled by a school crossing stop sign exhibiting the word "stop," vehicular traffic facing the sign shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk or at such other point as may be indicated by a clearly visible line and shall then proceed with due caution, having regard to the safety of the pedestrians crossing at that point. The Police Chief shall designate the time of placing such signs and the location thereof.
When authorized signs prohibiting parking are erected on narrow streets, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.
When authorized signs are erected upon approach to hazardous or congested places, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any such designated place.
When authorized signs are erected indicating no parking upon that side of the street adjacent to any school property, no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated place.
The provisions set forth below shall apply during snow emergencies declared by the Public Works Director or his/her designated representative:
A. 
The Director of Public Works may declare that a snow emergency exists any time during the calendar year. The snow emergency shall be announced by notifying local radio and television media and by notifying other Public Safety Departments of the City. The announcement shall include the duration of the parking ban and that parking is prohibited on any public way until the parking ban is lifted.
B. 
The Public Works Director shall also have the discretion to declare long-term parking bans if snow accumulation or public safety issues warrant emergency action in order to allow for the efficient removal of snow and ice.
C. 
No vehicle shall be parked at any time during a declared snow emergency so as to interfere with or hinder the removal of snow from said public street or way. Any person restricting the City snow plowing, loading and hauling operation or any person parking a vehicle in violation of a "no parking" sign placed on any street or way by the Public Works Department shall be subject to a fine under general penalties.[1] Notwithstanding the imposition of such a fine, the police officer issuing the citation may also cause any vehicle so parked to be removed from the street in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Towing, of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II.
A. 
The driver of any urban or interurban bus shall not stand or park in any business district at any place other than at a bus stop, except that this provision shall not prevent the driver of any such bus from temporarily stopping in accordance with other stopping or parking regulations at any place designated for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers.
B. 
The driver of any other bus except those described in Subsection A shall not stop or stand upon any street in any business district.
C. 
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle other than a bus in a bus stop when any such stop has been officially designated and appropriately signed, except that the driver of a passenger vehicle may temporarily stop therein for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading passengers when such stopping does not interfere with any bus waiting to enter or about to enter such zone.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in the direction of traffic and with the curbside wheels of the vehicle within 12 inches of the edge of the roadway, except upon those streets which have been marked or signed for angle parking, in which event vehicles shall be parked at the angle to the curb indicated by such mark or signs.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any public roadway or right-of-way for the principal purpose of:
A. 
Displaying it for sale or for the primary purpose of advertising.
B. 
Washing, greasing or repairing such vehicles, except for repairs necessitated by an emergency.
C. 
Parking commercial trucks or vans for more than a two-hour period in residential neighborhoods, unless loading or unloading.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or period of time other than for the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers in any place marked as a passenger zone during the hours when the regulations applicable to such passenger zones are effective, and then only for a period not to exceed 15 minutes.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any of the following places, nor shall any person move a vehicle not owned by him into any of these places, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer, other authorized person or traffic control device:
A. 
On a sidewalk.
B. 
In front of or within 10 feet of the intersection of the side lines of a public or private driveway with the nearest roadway edge of pavement.
C. 
Within an intersection.
D. 
Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
E. 
On a crosswalk or within 10 feet of any crosswalk, including unmarked crosswalks, except on the approach to a signalized intersection, where the distance shall be within 30 feet of any crosswalk, including unmarked crosswalks.
F. 
Within 20 feet of the nearest corner of the curbs at an intersection.
G. 
Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.
H. 
Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless the Traffic Committee indicates a different length by signs or markings.
I. 
Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of the entrance when properly signposted.
J. 
Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
K. 
On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street, or, double park, so called.
L. 
Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway.
M. 
At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
N. 
In front of a place of business or in a parking space within an off-street parking lot operated by the City of Saco for longer than two hours between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except for Sundays and holidays, unless a more restricted regulation is provided elsewhere in this chapter for such location.
O. 
In a parking space clearly marked as a handicapped parking space and that does not bear a special registration plate or placard issued under Title 29-A, § 521 or 523, or a similar plate issued by another state. "Clearly marked" includes painted signs on pavement and vertical standing signs that are visible in existing weather conditions. The Police Department shall have the authority to enforce this provision in publicly maintained areas as well as private off-street parking areas.
[Added 5-3-2004]
It shall be unlawful and a violation of the provisions of this chapter for any person to cause an obstruction to traffic by reason of inability to move a vehicle being operated by him because of snow or ice accumulation in a street when such vehicle has not been equipped with either snow-tread tires or tire chains.
Upon recommendation of the Chief of Police, the City Administrator is authorized to appoint Parking Control Officers, who shall have the same powers in the enforcement of parking regulations as are vested in members of the Police Department of the City and who may order into court any violator of parking regulations. Such Parking Control Officers shall not be considered members of the Police Department of the City except for administrative purposes.
The stopping, standing and/or parking of motor vehicles and movement of traffic are hereby regulated on the streets or parts of streets and ways and on publicly owned property on a traffic schedule established by the Traffic Safety Committee in public session, and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, the stopping, standing and/or parking of motor vehicles and movement of traffic shall be regulated as set forth on said schedule for such streets or parts of streets and ways and on such publicly owned property. Notwithstanding the above, either member of the Council serving on the Traffic Safety Committee may require any action taken under this section to be reviewed and approved by the Council as a whole.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the City from providing for free parking space for loading and unloading, for taxicabs, for bus stops and for other purposes of similar nature.
Any vehicle of any kind or description parked upon a public street of the City at a place, in a manner or for a length of time prohibited by ordinance is hereby declared to be an obstruction in such street and a menace to the safe and proper regulation of traffic.
No person shall allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in his/her name to stand or park in any street, way, highway, road or parkway under the control of the City in violation of any provision of this chapter or any ordinance of the City. The fact that a vehicle is unlawfully parked shall be prima facie evidence of the unlawful parking of such vehicle by the person in whose name such vehicle is registered.
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting the words "go," "caution" or "stop" or exhibiting different colored lights successively, the following colors only shall be used, and terms and lights shall indicate as follows:
A. 
Green alone or "go" shall mean vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn; but, vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection at the time such signal is exhibited.
B. 
Red alone or "stop" shall mean vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at such other points as may be indicated by a clearly visible line and shall remain standing until green or "go" is shown alone.
C. 
Red with green arrow shall mean vehicular traffic facing such signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow but shall not interfere with other traffic.
Whenever flashing red or yellow signals are used, they shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
A. 
Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line when marked, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rule applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
B. 
Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he/she is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.
No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles comprising a funeral or other authorized procession while they are in motion and when such vehicles are conspicuously designated as required in this chapter. This provision shall not apply at intersections where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or police officers or other authorized persons.
[Amended 1-4-2021]
No procession or parade containing 20 or more persons or five or more vehicles, excepting the forces of the uniformed armed services of the United States, the military forces of this state and the forces of the Police and Fire Departments, shall occupy, march or proceed along any street except in accordance with a permit issued by the Chief of Police and such other regulations as are set forth herein which may apply, except that nothing herein shall restrict through traffic traveling in convoy, provided that all traffic laws are obeyed.
A. 
A funeral composed of a procession of vehicles shall be identified as such by the display upon the outside of each vehicle of a pennant of a type designated by the Police Chief or displaying head- and taillights.
B. 
Each driver in a funeral or other procession shall drive as near to the right-hand edge of the roadway as practicable and follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practicable and safe.
The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any street in a business district and shall not upon any other street so turn a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic and provided that said turn is not in conflict with posting duly erected under § 211-6.
No person shall drive a vehicle out from the curb on any street without first looking to see that he/she shall not pull directly into the path of an approaching vehicle nor without giving a signal by hand and/or turn signal indicating that he/she is about to drive out from curb.
The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same into an intersection or over a crosswalk and shall not in any event or at any place back a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety.
Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with multiple-beam road lighting equipment, during the time when lighted lamps are required, is being operated on any street, way, highway, road or parkway or portion thereof under the control of the City, which is sufficiently lighted to reveal a person on the road at a distance of 200 feet ahead of the vehicle, the driver thereof shall dim the headlights or tilt the beams downward so that the glaring rays therefrom are not projected into the eyes of drivers of oncoming vehicles.
The driver of a vehicle emerging from a private driveway, automobile service station or building shall stop such vehicle immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk and, upon entering the roadway, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway.
The driver of a vehicle shall not drive within any sidewalk area except at a permanent or temporary driveway.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 211-37, Clinging to moving vehicles, was repealed 5-3-2004.
The operator of a motorcycle, when upon a street, shall not carry any other person upon the handlebars, frame or tank of any such vehicle, nor shall any person so ride upon any such vehicle.
The driver of any vehicle other than a City emergency vehicle shall not follow closer than 500 feet to any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm or drive into or park such vehicle within the block where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of the Fire Department, when laid down on any street or private driveway to be used at any fire or alarm of fire, without the consent of the Fire Department official in command.
No vehicle shall at any time be driven through or within a safety zone.
The driver of any vehicle which collides with any vehicle which is unattended shall immediately stop and shall then and there either locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or shall leave in a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle doing the striking.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to fixtures legally upon or adjacent to a highway shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property of such fact and of his/her name and address and of the registration number of the vehicle he/she is driving and shall, upon request and if available, exhibit his/her operator's or chauffeur's license and shall make report of such accident when and as required in 29 M.R.S.A. § 891.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said section was repealed by Chapter 683 of the Laws of 1993. See now 29-A M.R.S.A. § 2251.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or property damage to the estimated amount of $200 or more only shall, within 24 hours after such accident, forward a written report of such accident to the Police Department, which report may be a copy of the accident report required to be filed with the State Police under the laws of this state. The Police Department may require any driver of a vehicle involved in an accident of which report must be made as provided in this section to file supplemental reports whenever the original report is insufficient in the opinion of the Department and may require witnesses of accidents to render reports to said Department.
Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of making a required accident report and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of making a report, such occupant may make or cause to be made said report.