Source: https://ecode360.com/10607630
Timestamp: 2020-02-18 12:04:30
Document Index: 305230509

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 25', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 192', '§ 192', '§ 20', '§ 22', '§ 192', '§ 192']

Town of Lexington, MA Authority and Duties of Police and Board of Selectmen
Ch 192 Art II Authority and Duties of Police and Board of Selectmen
§ 192-2 Officers to direct traffic.
§ 192-3 Police may close streets temporarily.
§ 192-4 Police may prohibit parking temporarily.
§ 192-5 Obedience to police.
§ 192-6 Exemptions.
§ 192-7 Emergency and experimental regulations.
§ 192-8 Towing of vehicles unlawfully parked or standing.
§ 192-9 Towing and holding of vehicles with prior violations.
Article II Authority and Duties of Police and Board of Selectmen
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 signal 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 may close temporarily any street or highway in an impending or existing emergency or for any lawful assemblage, demonstration or procession, provided that there is reasonable justification for the closing of such street.
The Chief of Police may 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 that 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.
Drivers of vehicles shall comply with any lawful or reasonable order, signal or direction of any officer. Failure to comply with this section is a violation of MGL c. 90, § 25.
The provisions of these rules and orders shall not apply to operators actually engaged in work upon a street or highway closed to travel or under construction or repair, to officers when engaged in the performance of public duties or to drivers of emergency vehicles while operating in an emergency and in performance of public duties when the 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 for the safety of others.
For purposes of trial, the Board of Selectmen may make temporary rules regulating traffic or test, under actual conditions, traffic signs, signals, markings or other devices. No such emergency or experimental rule regulating traffic shall remain in effect for a period of time longer than 60 days.
In accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 22D, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Lexington hereby enact the following regulations authorizing the removal to a convenient place of vehicles parked or standing in such manner or in such areas as are hereinafter described on any way under the control of the Town of Lexington. Vehicles specifically exempted by MGL c. 40, § 22D shall not, however, be subject to such removal.
Authorization of police. The moving or towing of any vehicle under the provisions of this article shall be by and at the direction of the Chief of Police or such other officers of the rank of Sergeant or higher as he may from time to time designate.
Fees. The Board of Selectmen hereby imposes upon the owner of any vehicle moved or towed to a convenient place under the provisions of this article the following fees:
A removal or towing fee not to exceed that which is provided in or as authorized by statute law.
A storage fee not to exceed that which is provided in or as authorized by statute law.
Liability for damage during removal or storage. The towing agency or contractor shall be liable to the owner for any damage arising out of negligence caused to a vehicle in the course of removal and/or storage.
General prohibition towing zones. No person shall stand or park or allow, permit or suffer any vehicle registered in his or her name to stand or park in any of the following places. Vehicles found in violation of the provisions of this subsection, except those specifically exempt by law, shall be removed to a convenient place under the direction of an officer of the Police Department, and the owner of the vehicle so removed or towed away shall be liable to the cost of such removal and/or storage, if any, as set forth in Subsection B of this section. The owner of any vehicle removed or towed away under the provisions of this section shall also be subject to the penalties provided in Article X, § 192-81B of these rules and orders.
Within the limits of any way for a period of time exceeding 24 consecutive hours without the permission of the Board of Selectmen or the Chief of Police, whether or not said vehicle is disabled and preparations are being made by the owner or operator for its removal.
In a restricted area where parking is prohibited by posted signs.
[Added 7-29-1974; amended 10-29-1974]
Police to keep record of towed vehicles. The Police Department shall keep a record of all vehicles towed or removed under the provisions of this article. Such record shall be retained for one year and shall contain the following information:
The location to which it was removed.
The name of the towing agency or contractor, if any.
The name and rank of the police officer who authorized the towing or removal of the vehicle.
[Added 6-21-1978]
In addition to the provisions of § 192-8 of this article, it is hereby further provided that:
Any vehicle so removed by authority of the Chief Police or such other officer of the rank of Sergeant or higher shall be held and not released until all charges lawfully imposed for such removal and storage have been paid.
If in the calendar year in which such vehicle is so removed and in the preceding calendar year three or more notices of parking violations in the aggregate have been affixed to said vehicle as provided in MGL c. 90, § 20C, said vehicle shall be held and not released until due notice has been received from the District Court that either the unpaid fines provided for in such notices have been paid or security for the payment thereof has been deposited with said Court.
Vehicles specifically exempt by MGL c. 40, § 22D shall not be subject to such removal.
Liability so imposed for removal under the provisions of this section shall not exceed $25, and liability imposed for storage under the provisions of this section shall not exceed $2 for any twenty-four-hour period and $1.50 for any lesser period.
Neither the removal nor storage of a vehicle under the provisions of either § 192-8 or this section shall be deemed to be services rendered or work performed by the Town of Lexington or the Lexington Police Department. The towing agency shall be liable to the owner of such vehicle for any damage caused to it arising out of negligence in the course of such removal and/or storage.
The provisions of § 192-8 of this article are hereby specifically incorporated into this section.