[Adopted as §§ 14-1-4 through
14-1-7 of the 1972 Code (Ch. 12, Art. II, of the 1990 Code of Ordinances)]
There is hereby established a Traffic Engineering
Department. The Director of Public Works shall be the head of this
Department and he shall be designated as the Traffic Engineer.
The Traffic Engineer shall have the authority
to make all needful rules and regulations for the regulation of traffic
in the Town, not inconsistent with the laws of the state; provided,
however, that all regulations relative to the establishment of one-way
streets, winter parking regulations and snow routes, and regulations
restricting the use of streets by commercial vehicles shall first
be approved by the Town Council.
A.
No rule or regulation of the Traffic Engineer shall
be effective unless the rule or regulation is conspicuously posted
or marked in the area affected or if not conspicuously posted or marked
is advertised at least once in a newspaper of general circulation
in the area.
B.
The requirements of this section shall apply to the
Traffic Engineer only. Rules established by ordinance of the Town
Council shall become effective as set forth in the Charter.
Without intending in any manner to limit the
generality of the powers conferred under this article, the Traffic
Engineer shall have full authority to perform and carry out the following
duties:
A.
Establish rules and regulations governing the use
of public highways by vehicles and pedestrians within the limits established
by state law and the provisions hereof, including, but not to the
exclusion of, other regulatory powers conferred;
B.
Install traffic-control devices;
C.
Designate throughways and stop streets, curb parking
zones and the manner of their use;
D.
Designate public carrier stands and stops, crosswalks,
safety zones and streets at which drivers shall not make right or
left turns;
E.
Establish speed restrictions and exercise the authority
granted to the Town by the state in R.I.G.L. §§ 31-14-5
through 31-14-8.
