The text
Sec. 12-1. - "Vehicle" defined.#
The word "vehicle," as used in this chapter, shall mean every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(Code 1967, § 22-1)
Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.
State Law reference— Similar definition, G.L. 1956, § 31-1-3.
Sec. 12-2. - Obedience to chapter.#
Every driver and person in charge or control of a vehicle or a horse shall obey the regulations set forth in this chapter.
(Code 1967, § 22-2)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-12-2.
Sec. 12-3. - Obedience to police officer.#
No person shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested by law with authority to direct, control or regulate traffic, including any order or direction pertaining to fire lane parking violations whether on private or public property.
(Code 1967, § 22-3)
Cross reference— Police department, Ch. 16.
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-12-3.
Sec. 12-4. - Unauthorized traffic signs and devices prohibited.#
(a)
No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any street or 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 upon any street or highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising without the consent of the chief of police of the town. This shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to streets or 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 town council is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.
(Code 1967, § 22-4)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-13-10.
Sec. 12-5. - Injury to official traffic-control devices or signs prohibited.#
No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down or remove any official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon or any other part thereof.
(Code 1967, § 22-5)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 31-13-11.
Sec. 12-6. - Unauthorized entering, clinging to, etc., vehicles.#
No person shall enter, go upon, ride upon, cling to or support himself wholly or in part upon any vehicle or part thereof while such vehicle is standing upon or passing over any part of any street without the express permission of the owner or the person in charge of such vehicle.
(Code 1967, § 22-6)
State Law reference— Clinging to vehicles, G.L. 1956, § 31-19-5.
Sec. 12-7. - Removal of vehicles and horses.#
(a)
Generally. Every driver or person having charge of any horse or vehicle on a street shall remove the same to another place on such street or from such street to some other street whenever directed to do so by any police officer in uniform; and in case of neglect or refusal after such direction, any police officer in uniform may remove or cause the same to be removed to and leave the same in such other place or other street.
(b)
Authority of police. Any police officer in uniform, in his discretion, may remove any horse or vehicle left upon any street not in the apparent charge of any driver or other person, or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or other ordinances of the town to another place on such street or from such street to some other street or to a stable or garage and leave the same there.
(Code 1967, § 22-8)
Sec. 12-8. - Removal of vehicles obstructing traffic on bridge or in tunnel.#
Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle unattended upon any bridge or causeway or in any tunnel where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, such officer is hereby authorized to provide for the removal of such vehicle to the nearest garage or other place of safety.
(Code 1967, § 22-9)
Cross reference— Obstructing sidewalks generally, § 18-2.
State Law reference— Similar provisions. G.L. 1956, § 31-21-3.
Sec. 12-9. - Removal of vehicles interfering with snow removal.#
(a)
It is hereby declared to be in the public welfare, interest and safety that in order to ensure the delivery of food and fuel and to enable fire apparatus to reach all areas of the town, it is necessary that during and after a snow storm all public highways in the town be made passable.
(b)
In order to facilitate the plowing of such highways, it may be necessary for the director of public works to remove vehicles interfering with the plowing of such highways.
(c)
In such event, the director of public works and his authorized representatives are hereby authorized to remove or cause to be removed any motor vehicle interfering with the plowing of such highways.
(d)
The cost, if any, of so removing any vehicle shall be assessed against the owner of such vehicle.
(Code 1967, § 22-10)
Cross reference— Snow and ice on streets and sidewalks, § 18-8.