Town of Essex, MA - CHAPTER V-POLICE REGULATIONS

For the purpose of these rules and orders, the words and phrases used herein shall have the following meanings except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

a. "Street or Highway." The entire width between property lines of every way open to the use of the public for purposes of travel.

b. "Roadway." That portion of a street or highway between the regularly established curb lines or that part, exclusive of shoulders, improved and intended to be used for vehicular traffic.

c. "Lane." A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.

d. "Vehicle." Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

e. "Emergency Vehicle." Vehicles of the Fire Department (Fire Patrol), police vehicles, public works vehicles, ambulances and emergency vehicles or federal, state and municipal departments or public service corporations when the latter are responding to an emergency in relation to the police or fire departments.

f. "Parking." The stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily, except that a vehicle shall not be deemed parked when stopped or standing for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading or in obedience to an officer of traffic control signs or signals or while making emergency repairs or, if disabled, while arrangements are being made to move such vehicle.

g. "Pedestrian." Any portion afoot or riding on a conveyance moved by human power, except bicycles or tricycles.

i. "Crosswalk." That portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of curb lines and property lines at intersections, or at any portion of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines on the road surface or by other markings or signs.

or herded animals, vehicles, or other conveyances either single or together while using any street or highway for the purpose of travel.

k. "Official Traffic Signs." All signs, markings and devises, other than signals, not inconsistent with these rules and orders, and which conform to the standards prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning or regulating traffic.

l. "Officer." Any officer, investigator, examiner or inspector of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, any constable or special officer, provided he is in uniform or displays his badge of office.

m. "Funeral." Any procession of mourners properly identified as such accompanying the remains of a human body.

n. "Official Curb Marking." That portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been authorized by the selectmen, and which complies with the standards of the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has the written approval of said department.

o. "Official Street Marking." Any painted line, marking or marker placed in or upon any way by authority of the selectmen and which complies with the standards of the Department of Public Works and has the written approval of said department.

It shall be the duty of officers designated by the Chief of Police to enforce the provisions of these rules and orders. Such officers are hereby authorized to direct all traffic either in person or by means of visible or audible signals in conformance with the provisions of these rules and orders, provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police or fire department may direct traffic, as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of these rules and orders.

The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to close temporarily, any street or highway in an impending or existing emergency, or for any lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession provided there is reasonable justification for the closing of such street.

The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to prohibit, temporarily, parking on any street or highway or part thereof in an impending or existing emergency, or for a lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession provided there is reasonable justification for such prohibition. Vehicles parked in places where parking is prohibited temporarily may be moved by or under the direction of an officer.

The provisions of these rules and orders shall not apply to operators actually engaged in work or repair, to officers when engaged in the performance of public duties nor to drivers of emergency vehicles while operating in an emergency and in performance of public duties when nature of the work of any of these necessitates a departure from any part of these rules and orders. These exemptions shall not, however, protect the driver of any vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.

The Director of Public Works may with the approval of the board of selectmen and shall at the request of the board of selectmen place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained all official traffic signs, signals, markings and safety zones shall conform to the standards as prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation to place or maintain or to display upon or in view of any street any unofficial sign, signal or device which purposes to be or is an imitation or resembles an official sign or signal. The Chief of Police is hereby empowered to remove every such prohibited sign, signal marking device or cause it to be removed without notice.

Any person who willfully defaces, injures, moves, obstructs or interferes with an official traffic sign, signal or markings shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding twenty dollars for each and every offense.

No driver of any vehicle shall disobey the instructions of any official traffic control signal, sign, marking, marker of legend, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

No person shall park a vehicle in any of the following places and vehicles found parked in violation of the provisions of this section may be moved by or under the direction of the chief of police or such

other officers of the rank of sergeant or higher, and at the expense of the owner to a place where parking is permitted.

the right side of the vehicle are within 12 inches of the curb or edge of the roadway, except upon those streets which are designated as one-way streets. On such one-way streets, vehicles shall be parked in the direction in which said vehicle is moving and with both wheels within 12 inches of the curb. This shall not apply to streets or parts of streets where angle parking is required by these regulations.

f. Upon any roadway where the parking of a vehicle will not leave a clear and unobstructed lane at least 10 feet wide for passing traffic.

i. Upon any street or highway within 10 feet of an intersecting way, except alleys unless otherwise provided.

j. Within 15 feet of the wall of a fire station or directly across the street from such station provided signs are erected acquainting the driver of such restriction.

k. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.

l. Winter parking ban goes into effect December 1 to April 1. No parking on any street, midnight to dawn, with the exception of Pickering Street, (easterly side).

o. 30-minute maximum parking on the north side(Joe's Market side) of Martin St. from Route 133 (Main St.) to the west side of Winthrop; 30-minute maximum parking both sides of Pickering St. for 100 feet north of Martin St; 30-minute maximum parking both sides of Winthrop St. for 100 feet north of Martin St.; no parking on the south side of Martin St. from Route 133 (Main St.) to the fire station.