ARTICLE II. - ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Part of the Code of Ordinances of Bristol, RI.
The text
Footnotes:
--- (2) --- Cross reference— Administration, ch. 2.
Sec. 16-41. - Enforcement of chapter; direction of traffic by police officers.#
(a)
It shall be the duty of the police department to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Police officers are hereby authorized to direct all traffic either in person or by means of visible or audible signal in conformance with the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police department may temporarily direct traffic, as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter.
(b)
Traffic aids, individuals designated as such by the town administrator, from time to time, shall be empowered to issue parking tickets and violation notices in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Code 1972, § 11-11)
State Law reference— Town authorized to regulate traffic by means of police officers, G.L. 1956, § 31-12-12.
Sec. 16-42. - Promulgation of traffic regulations by chief of police.#
The chief of police is hereby authorized and empowered to make and enforce regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this chapter, and to make temporary regulations to cover emergencies or special conditions.
(Code 1972, § 11-12)
Sec. 16-43. - Compliance with directions, orders or signals of police officers required.#
No person shall refuse or fail to comply with any order, signal or direction of a police officer, either in uniform or displaying an official police badge. This section shall apply to members of the permanent police department and members of the reserve staff who have been officially assigned to duty only.
(Code 1972, § 11-13)
Sec. 16-44. - Applicability of chapter provisions to public employees.#
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the operator of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the U.S. government, this state or town or any other political subdivision, and it shall be unlawful for any such operator to violate any of the provisions of this chapter, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.
(Code 1972, § 11-14)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, §§ 31-12-3, 31-12-4.
Sec. 16-45. - Informal procedure for payment of parking fines.#
(a)
Payment without personal appearance. Any member of the town police and any other duly authorized enforcement officer who charges any person with an offense as set forth in this section, in addition to issuing a summons for the offense, shall provide the offending operator with a form which will allow the offender to dispose of the charge without the necessity of personally appearing before the municipal court; provided that any operator who has been guilty of a third or subsequent parking violation within 12 months of the first offense must appear before the municipal court on the date specified on the summons, and may not dispose of the third or subsequent offense administratively. This section shall apply to both resident and nonresident operators.
(b)
Method of payment. If the offending operator elects to dispose of the charge without personally appearing before the municipal court, he or she shall execute the form indicated and return it to the municipal court not later than 14 days from the date of the summons either by mailing or delivering the form and summons to the municipal court clerk or the clerk's designee with a check or money order in the amount indicated by the fine schedule on the form.
(c)
Schedule of violations. The following violations may be handled administratively through the method described in this section; provided, however, that this list is not exclusive and jurisdiction may be conferred on the municipal court with regard to other violations consistent with the Rhode Island General Laws, and this Code:
Parking Violations Schedule Violation Fine
(1) Overtime Parking/Overtime Residential Parking in violation of section 16-343 ..... $30.00
(2) Parking prohibited area ..... $30.00
Parking prohibited area, Old Ferry Road ..... $50.00
(3) Double parking ..... $30.00
(4) Parking loading zone ..... $30.00
(5) Parking on sidewalk ..... $30.00
(6) Obstructing driveway ..... $30.00
(7) Angle parking ..... $30.00
(8) Parking within 15 feet of corner ..... $30.00
(9) Parking with left wheels to curb $30.00
(10) Parking within eight feet of fire hydrant ..... $50.00
(11) Parking in excess of one foot from curb ..... $30.00
(12) Parking on marked crosswalk ..... $50.00
(13) Parking in street sweeping zone ..... $30.00
(14) Parking in official's designated zone ..... $30.00
(15) Parking unregistered vehicle on street ..... $30.00
(16) Parking in fire lane ..... $30.00
(17) Parking of vehicle overnight which weighs one ton or more in a residential zone ..... $30.00
(18) Parking during snow ban ..... $30.00
(19) Parking without permit on State Street dock ..... $30.00
(20) Parking without permit on Church Street dock ..... $30.00
(21) Parking in violation of traffic control device ..... $30.00
(22) Parking without a trailer in designated areas at Independence Park ..... $30.00
(23) Failure to remove vehicle during snow emergency parking ban ..... $30.00
(24) Parking unattached trailer on street ..... $30.00
(25) Parking without permit on Prudence Dock ..... $30.00
(26) Parking in municipal parking lots in violation of section 16-308 ..... $30.00
(27) Overnight parking on Church Street dock (section 16-151(D)) ..... $30.00
(28) Parking boats and trailers in violation of section 15-158 ..... $30.00
(29) Overnight parking in violation of section 16-142 ..... $30.00
(d)
Failure to answer. In the event an operator fails to pay the amount stated on the notice of parking violation or fails to enter a plea of not guilty to the citation within 14 days from the date of summons, then said fines shall be doubled and the operator shall have waived his or her right to dispose of the offense without personal appearance, and must appear before the municipal court on the date specified on the summons. Absent a municipal court hearing, failure to pay the foregoing stated fines within 28 days from the date of summons shall result in triple the stated amount of the fine.
(e)
Adjudication. Adjudication of parking violations contained in this chapter shall be in the same manner as for cases involving motor vehicle violations as set forth in section 2-215 of this Code.
(Code 1972, § 11-15; Ord. No. 1999-19, 8-25-99; Ord. No. 2000-10, 5-31-00; Ord. No. 2002-15, 7-17-02; Ord. No. 2002-20, 9-12-02; Ord. No. 2007-12, 3-21-07; Ord. No. 2008-03, 5-7-08; Ord. No. 2008-31, 11-12-08; Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-29-15; Ord. No. 2019-05, 6-5-19; Ord. No. 2023-08, 5-31-23; Ord. No. 2024-19, 1-15-25; Ord. No. 2025-16, 1-15-2026)
State Law reference— Town to provide for payment of traffic fines to police department, G.L. 1956, § 12-14-4.
Sec. 16-46. - Towing authorized for multiple violations.#
If the owner of any motor vehicle has received three parking citations and has failed to either pay the fines or appear in court in accordance with section 16-45 the police may cause the vehicle to immediately be towed and impounded until all outstanding fines, court costs, towing charges, and storage charges are paid. Notwithstanding the above, if the owner of any motor vehicle violates section 16-45(c)(26), "parking without permit in a reserved space on Prudence Ferry Dock, and/or other town-designated Prudence Ferry parking areas," the harbormaster may cause the vehicle to immediately be towed upon notification to the police department and the vehicle shall be impounded until all outstanding fines, towing charges and storage fees are paid.
(Ord. No. 2003-03, 4-2-03; Ord. No. 2015-04, 4-29-15; Ord. No. 2019-05, 6-5-19)