[Amended 7-13-1999]
The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Blackstone,
acting by virtue of the power given to it by MGL c. 40, § 22,
and by MGL c. 90, § 18 and by virtue of any other power
it hereto enabling, hereby adopts and makes the rules and orders for
the regulations of carriages and vehicles used in said Town for regulating
traffic upon the streets and highways of said Town of Blackstone which
are hereto annexed, the same to be known as "Traffic Rules and Orders
of the Town of Blackstone." Insofar as said rules and orders or any
of them are the same as the regulations, rules and orders now in force
they shall be deemed to be a continuation thereof.
For the purpose of this chapter, the words and
phrases used herein shall have the following meanings, except in those
instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
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 marking or signs.
CURB MARKING, OFFICIAL
That portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been
authorized by the Board of Selectmen, and which has the written approval
of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Vehicles of the Fire Department (Fire Patrol), police vehicles,
ambulances and emergency vehicles of the federal, state and municipal
departments or public service corporations when the latter are responding
to an emergency in relation to the Police or Fire Department.
INTERSECTION
The area embraced within the extensions of the lateral curb
lines or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines, of intersecting
ways as defined in MGL c. 90, § 1, including divided ways.
The rules and regulations herein contained governing and restricting
the movement of vehicles at and near intersecting ways shall apply
at any place along any way at which drivers are to be controlled by
traffic control signals whether or not such place is an "intersection"
as herein defined.
LANE
A longitudinal division of a roadway into a strip of sufficient
width to accommodate the passage of a single line of vehicles.
OFFICER
Any officer of the Blackstone Police Department or any officer
authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for the
violation of traffic regulations.
PARKING
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in
loading or unloading, or in obedience to an officer or traffic signs
or signals, or while making emergency repairs or, if disabled, while
arrangements are being made to move such vehicle.
PEDESTRIAN
Any person afoot or riding on a conveyance moved by human
muscular power, except bicycles or tricycles as defined in MGL c.
90, § 18A.
PERSON
Includes any individual, firm, copartnership, association
or corporation.
ROADWAY
That portion of a street or highway between the regularly
established curblines or that part, exclusive of shoulders, improved
and intended to be used for vehicular traffic.
ROTARY TRAFFIC
The counter-clockwise operation of a vehicle around an object
or structure.
SAFETY ZONE
Any area or space set aside within a roadway for the exclusive
use of pedestrians and which has been indicated by signs, lines or
markings, having the written approval of the Department of Public
Works, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
SERVICE ZONE
An area in the roadway set aside for the accommodation of
commercial and transient vehicular traffic.
STREET or HIGHWAY
The entire width between property lines of every way open
to the use of the public for purpose of travel.
STREET MARKING, OFFICIAL
Any painted line, legend, marking or marker of any description
painted or placed upon any way which purports to direct or regulate
traffic and which has been authorized by the Board of Selectmen and
which has the written approval of the Department of Public Works,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
TRAFFIC
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars
or other conveyances either singly or together while using any street
or highway for the purpose of travel.
TRAFFIC CONTROL AREA
Any area along any way, other than an intersecting way, at
which drivers are to be controlled by traffic control signals.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL
Any device using colored lights which conforms to the standards
as prescribed by the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated,
by which traffic may be alternately directed to stop and to proceed.
TRAFFIC ISLAND
Any area or space set aside within a roadway, which is not
intended for use by vehicular traffic.
TRAFFIC SIGNALS, OFFICIAL
All signals, conforming to the standards as prescribed by
the Department of Public Works of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
not inconsistent with this chapter, placed or erected by authority
of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose
of directing or warning traffic.
TRAFFIC SIGNS, OFFICIAL
All signs, markings and devices, other than signals, not
inconsistent with this chapter 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.
VEHICLES
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, including bicycles
when the provisions of this chapter are applicable to them, except
other devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary
rails or tracks.
VEHICLE, COMMERCIAL
Any vehicle being used in the transportation of goods, wares
or merchandise for commercial purposes.