The text
Sec. 16-1. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Authorized emergency vehicle means vehicles of the police department and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of the town or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the chief of police or state registrar of motor vehicles. State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-1-3.
Crosswalk means that portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the street, or any other portion of a roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface. State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-1-25.
Curb loading zone means a space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the active loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
Driveway means every road or driveway not open to the use of the public for the purpose of vehicular travel.
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the weight value specified by the vehicle manufacturer on the federal weight certification label as the loaded weight of a vehicle. GVWR is measured by the following classifications: (1)
Class 1: 6,000 pounds or less
(2)
Class 2: 6,001 pounds—10,000 pounds
(3)
Class 3: 10,001 pounds—14,000 pounds
(4)
Class 4: 14,001 pounds or more
Intersection means the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curblines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of two or more streets or highways which join one another at an angle whether or not one such street or highway crosses the other. State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-1-24.
Official traffic control devices means all signs, signals, markings and devices, not inconsistent with this chapter, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning or regulating traffic. State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-1-28.
Operator means any person who drives and is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
Parking means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, attended or unattended, upon a street, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading.
Pedestrian means any person afoot.
Right-of-way means the privilege of the immediate use of the street or highway.
Roadway means that portion of a street or highway between the regularly established curblines or that part improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
Sidewalk means that portion of a street between the curblines and the adjacent property lines.
Stop means, when required, the complete cessation of movement.
Stopping or standing means, when prohibited, any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.
Street or highway means every way set apart for public travel, except footpaths.
Traffic means pedestrians, ridden animals, herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street for the purposes of travel.
Vehicle means every object or device propelled or drawn on wheels, rollers, runners or otherwise, except road rollers and such vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks.
(Code 1972, § 11-1; Ord. No. 2018-09, 6-13-18)
Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 16-2. - Excessive noise.#
(a)
Squealing of tires. No person shall unnecessarily cause the squealing of automobile tires in the town.
(b)
Use of signalling devices. No person shall unnecessarily operate any horn, bell or other signalling device of any vehicle.
(c)
Acceleration of motorcycles. No person shall unnecessarily accelerate a motorcycle thereby causing excessive or unusual noise.
(Code 1972, §§ 11-2—11-4)
Sec. 16-3. - Snow emergency.#
(a)
Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Snow emergency means when the town administrator or his/her duly authorized agent, shall declare that the accumulation of a fall of snow on the public streets and highways of the town is of sufficient quantity as to constitute an emergency affecting the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the town. The town administrator or his/her duly authorized agent shall define pursuant to this section the areas of the town in which such "snow emergency" exists, and the duration thereof. The town administrator or his/her duly authorized agent shall notify the public that a "snow emergency" has been declared via media outlets and the town's webpage.
(b)
Restrictions on parking of vehicles. The following provisions shall be applicable to al motor vehicles parked on the public streets and highways of the town, and the owners, operators or persons having charge thereof, for such periods of time and in such areas of the town as the town administrator or his/her duly authorized agent shall designate declaring a snow emergency, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section:
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-1-3.
(1)
Upon such declaration of a snow emergency by the town administrator or his/her duly authorized agent, every owner, operator or person having charge of a motor vehicle parked on the public streets and highways of the town in the areas designated by the town administrator shall forthwith remove the vehicle from such public streets and highways and arrange for its storage outside the limits of such public streets and highways, during the period of time designated by the town administrator declaring such snow emergency.
(2)
In the areas of the town subject to such snow emergency, if any owner, operator or person in charge of a motor vehicle parked upon a public street or highway therein is unable, refuses or fails to remove such motor vehicle there from, any police officer of the town is hereby authorized and directed to call upon an approved towing service, and direct that such motor vehicle be removed to a suitable place within the town. Any motor vehicle thus removed from the public streets or highways of the town shall not be further removed from the location to which it is towed, without the written consent of the owner, operator or person having charge thereof, or an agent of such owner, operator or other person duly authorized, in writing. In addition to other remedies, a person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine as adopted by the town council in section 11-1 of this Code.
(3)
Every motor vehicle removed from the public streets or highways of the town during a snow emergency under the provisions of this section and towed to a place of storage on public property of the town shall not be removed there from by the owner, operator or other person having charge thereof, except upon the payment to the chief of police, or his/her duly authorized agent for such purpose, or to the person performing such towing service, as evidenced by a written receipt of payment of a towing charge as established by the Public Utilities Commission (P.U.C.) of the State of Rhode Island.
(4)
Vehicles which have been placed in emergency parking lots during a snow ban emergency must be removed within one hour from the lifting of the snow ban. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine as adopted by the town council in section 11-1 of this Code.
(5)
During any snow emergency, the police officer directing the towing away of a motor vehicle parked on the public streets or highways shall call only upon towing service companies which have indicated by a writing deposited with the chief of police, agreeing to abide by the provisions of this section respecting such towing charges and other regulations, and shall have further agreed to remove motor vehicles for storage, if other than upon the premises of or under the direct control of such towing service companies, only to the public location as directed by such police officer. Towing service companies so registered with the chief of police shall be listed in alphabetical order and shall be called upon for their services by such police officers to the greatest possible extent in the order of their appearance on such list. Violations of this section, by any towing service company or by the owner, operator or person having charge of a motor vehicle parked upon the public highways of the town during a snow emergency declared by vote of the town council as aforesaid, shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine of $5.00 for each offense, and the owner or operator of a towing service company shall be subject, upon conviction of a violation of this section, to a removal of his name from the approved list of eligible towing service companies.
(6)
Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the owner, operator or person having charge of a motor vehicle parked upon the public streets or highways of the town during a snow emergency, from entering into a private arrangement with a towing service company for the towing and removal of a motor vehicle from such public street or highway to a place of storage without the limits thereof, upon such terms and conditions as such person may agree upon; provided, however, that such towing under private arrangement shall be completed and such vehicle towed away prior to the time a direction by a police officer of the town shall have been issued to have such motor vehicle towed away by an approved service company under the provisions of this section.
(c)
Deposit of snow on public property prohibited. Depositing or placing snow on public property, including streets, highways, rights-of-way, easements, and sidewalks is prohibited. Application of this section shall not be limited to snow emergencies but shall apply for all snow events. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine as adopted by the town council in section 11-1 of this Code.
(Code 1972, §§ 11-5, 11-6; Ord. No. 2005-59, 1-5-06; Ord. No. 2008-19, 9-10-08)
Sec. 16-4. - Clinging to moving vehicles.#
No person traveling upon any bicycle, coaster sled, roller skates or any toy vehicle or other vehicle shall cling or attach himself or his vehicle to any other moving vehicle upon the street.
(Code 1972, § 11-7)
Sec. 16-5. - Unlawful riding on vehicles.#
No person shall ride on any vehicle upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for the use of passengers, when the vehicle is in motion. This section shall not apply to the interiors of truck bodies in the space intended for merchandise.
(Code 1972, § 11-8)
Sec. 16-6. - Manner of stopping buses for receiving or discharging passengers.#
Except at a loading zone, no operator of a bus shall bring the bus to a stop to receive or discharge passengers at any other place than close to the curb or side of the traveled way when the same is accessible, or when the same is not accessible to stop for such purpose in any position such that there is room for another vehicle to pass on the side where passengers are to be received or discharged.
(Code 1972, § 11-9)
Sec. 16-7. - One-way streets designated and parking restrictions established.#
The following streets are hereby designated as one-way streets. Traffic shall proceed on such streets only in the direction indicated. Vehicles shall be parked only on the side of the street indicated as follows:
Bourne Street, east from High to Woods Street; no parking south side.
Congregational Street, west from Wood to High Street; no parking south side.
Cooke Street, south from Constitution Street to Union Street; no parking east side.
Cottage Street, west from Wood to High Street; no parking on the south side.
Court Street, easterly from Hope to High Street; no parking north side.
John Street, westerly from Hope Street to Thames Street; no parking south side.
Loring Road, north to Curtis Road and west to Brookwood Road.
Monroe Avenue, north from Franklin to Bayview Avenue; parking restricted west side from Franklin Street to Lincoln Avenue; no parking on east side.
Pearse Avenue, south from Church Street to Constitution Street; no parking either side except as designated as follows:
At a point beginning 30 feet south from the southwest corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the west side of Pearse Avenue.
At a point beginning 110 feet south from the southwest corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the west side of Pearse Avenue.
At a point beginning 150 feet south from the southwest corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the west side of Pearse Avenue.
At a point beginning 206.8 feet from the southeast corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the east side of Pearse Avenue.
At a point beginning 357.8 feet from the southeast corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the east side of Pearse Avenue.
At a point beginning 457.8 feet from the southeast corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the east side of Pearse Avenue.
At a point beginning 487.8 feet from the southeast corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the east side of Pearse Avenue.
At a point beginning 517.8 feet from the southeast corner of Church Street and Pearse Avenue and extending 20 feet south on the east side of Pearse Avenue.
Prospect Street, south from Mt. Hope Avenue to Richmond Street; no parking east side.
Rock Street, north from State Street to Shaws Lane; no parking east side.
Roma Street, west from Gray Street to Wood Street; no parking on the north side.
St. Elizabeth Street, east from Wood Street to Magnolia Street; no parking north side.
Shaws Lane, west from Ryan Avenue to Wood Street; no parking south side.
Sherry Avenue, north from corner to Perry Street.
Wardwell Street, westerly from Central Street; no parking south side.
Wilson Street, north from Franklin Street to Roma Street; no parking west side.
(Code 1972, § 11-10; Ord. No. 2021-23, 12-22-21; Ord. No. 2022-02, 4-20-22)
Sec. 16-8. - Limited egress from Gooding Plaza to Hope Street.#
Vehicles are prohibited from exiting onto Hope Street from Gooding Plaza which is located at the corner of Hope Street and Gooding Avenue on that land leased to Gooding Realty Corporation by the town on October 16, 1958.
(Code 1972, § 11-10.1)
Sec. 16-9. - Violations and arrest.#
The provisions of section 16-45 shall apply with equal force to section 16-8 and are hereby made a part thereof.
(Code 1972, § 11-10.2)