Newfields Police Department 

A Level I New Hampshire Accredited Agency

Chapter One

Parking Regulations

100.0 Definitions:

100.1 Abandoned Vehicles

For the purpose of this Chapter only, an abandoned vehicle is one that is in violation of any provisions of this Chapter for a period of time greater than 24 hours.

100.2 Crosswalk

Any portion of the roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

100.3 Districts (as defined in NH RSA's)

a. Business District: The territory contiguous to a highway in which fifty percent or more of the frontage thereon for a distance of 300 feet or more is occupied by dwellings or by dwellings and buildings in use for business. (259:8)

b. Urban Residence District: The territory contiguous to a highway not comprising a business district when the frontage on such highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is mainly occupied by dwellings or by dwellings and buildings in use for business (259:118)

c. Rural Residence District: The territory contiguous to a highway not comprising a business or urban residence district, in which the frontage on such highway for a distance of one-half mile or more, is mainly occupied by dwellings or by dwellings and buildings in use for business on any one side. (259:83)

100.4 Fire Lanes

The portion of a traveled way established or private property, devoted to public use, where parking of motor vehicles or other obstructions may interfere with the ingress and egress of Fire Department or other emergency vehicles at schools, stores, churches and similar locations.

100.5 Exemption

Restriction described in this section shall not apply to vehicles engaged in commercial loading and unloading where the vehicle is attended and no other means of loading are available.

100.6 Intersection

The area bounded by the prolongation of the lateral curb lines or the lateral boundary lines of two highways.

100.7 Official Time

Time designated herein shall be standard or daylight, whichever shall be in force.

100.8 Persons, Drivers, Pedestrians

• Person: Every natural person, firm, co-partnership, association, or corporation.

• Driver: Every person who drives or is in physical control of a vehicle.

• Pedestrian: A person on foot.

100.9 Police Officer

An officer of the municipal police department or any person authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations or traffic regulations.

100.10 Railroads

• Railroads: A carrier of persons or property; cars operated upon stationary rails.

• Railroad Train: A steam engine, electric, diesel or other motor vehicle with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon stationary rails.

100.11 Right-Of-Way

The privilege of the immediate use of the road.

100.12 Safety Zone

The area or space officially set apart within a roadway as a safety zone for the exclusive use of pedestrians and so marked or indicated by inadequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times.

100.13 Traffic

Pedestrians, draft animals, cattle, sheep, goats, vehicle or other conveyances while using the street for the purpose of travel.

100.14 Traffic Control Devices

• All signs, signals, markings, and devices not inconsistent with these regulations erected pursuant to proper authority for the purpose of regulations, warning, or guiding traffic.

• Traffic signals, mechanically or electrically operated, by which traffic is alternatively directed to stop and proceed, erected pursuant to authority.

100.15 Traffic Movements

• Stop: When required, means complete cessation of movement.

• Stop or Stopping: When prohibited, means any stopping of a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with the other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.

100.16 Traveled Ways

• Street or Highway: The entire width between boundary lines of every public way or place of whatever nature used by the members of the public for the purpose of vehicular traffic.

• Private Road or Driveway: Every way or place in private ownership and used for traffic by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner.

• Roadway: That portion of the street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel whether defined by a curbstone or not.

• Curb: The lateral boundaries of that portion of the street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic whether defined by a curbstone or not.

• Sidewalk: That portion of the street between the curb lines and adjacent property lines, intended for pedestrian use.

• Alley: A public, narrow passage or way between buildings within the compact area of the town.

100.17 Vehicles

• Vehicles: Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway.

• Motor Vehicles: Every vehicle that is self-propelled.

• Authorized Emergency Vehicles: Fire and Police Department vehicles and such other vehicles so designated by the Division of Motor Vehicles or the Board of Selectman of Newfields, New Hampshire.

100.18 Weekdays

Shall mean Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

101 No Parking Zones

It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a motor vehicle at any time contrary to any of the following provisions of the Section unless otherwise directed by a Police Officer.

101.1 Parking Prohibited in Specific Places

• on a public sidewalk

• on a public crosswalk

• within an intersection

• in front of a public or private driveway

• within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or sprinkler supply head

• within 30 feet of an intersecting street or road

• within the entrance of the fire station

• along the side of or opposite any street or excavation or obstruction when such parking will obstruct traffic.

• upon any bridge or elevated structure upon a highway

• at any place where official signs prohibit parking or stopping within any designated fire lane

• on the road side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb, of any street

• on the roadway when the vehicle, parallel parked, has its right wheels more than 12 inches from the curb or edge of the road.

• on railroad tracks

• on the travel portion of any roadway so as to obstruct the movement of traffic in the travel lane

• at a designated bus or taxi stop

• on a public way when any wheel of a parked vehicle is beyond the painted lines in the roadway

• in any posted area on Town Property

• upon any roadway when the principal purpose is displaying the vehicle for sale

• in zones designed for handicapped parking

• in the Town Office parking lot from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am

• in front of the Newfields Elementary School

• blocking the state recreation trail

101.2 Parking Prohibited on Specific Streets

102 Restricted Parking

It shall be unlawful for any person to stop, stand or park a motor vehicle contrary to any of the following provisions of this section unless otherwise directed by a Police Officer.

102.1 Winter Parking Ban

Within the Town of Newfields, from November 15th to April 1st, no parking is permitted on any public street between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am. Vehicles found to hinder snow removal, shall be towed at the owner's expense.

102.2 Parks and Commons

In any town-owned park, common, playground or recreational area between the hours of 9:00 pm and 6:00 am.

102.3 School Hours Restrictions

On the following streets during the normal school hours.

102.4 Snow Emergency

In the event of a predicted or on-going severe winter snowstorm requiring enhanced actions maintaining snow plowing and/or removal as deemed necessary by the Road Agent, a "Snow Emergency" shall be called by the Chief of Police. The Chief shall contact the news media, including local radio station(s) to notify the public that a ban exists and shall specify the start of the snow emergency and shall estimate when same will be called off. It shall be unlawful for any person having the custody and/or control of any vehicle to park or cause the same to be parked within the public R-O-W during a snow emergency. Vehicles interfering with snow plowing and/or removal operations shall be towed and stored at the owner's expense.

103 Restricted Parking

Town Landing-designated area reserved for vehicles w/ boat trailers between April 1st and November 5th.

104 Penalties

A person violating any provision of Chapter 1 of the Traffic Code shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred ($100) dollars for each offense, except that optional procedures set forth in Section 105 may be used in lieu of court proceedings for violations of Chapter 1.

105 Procedures in Paying Penalties

The operator or owner may, within 72 hours of the time when a notice of a violation of Chapter 1 was attached to the vehicles, pay to the Clerk of the Newfields Police Department by mail or personal appearance the sum of seven ($7.00) dollars as a penalty in lieu of court proceedings, except in reference to 101.1 (t) where the penalty is fifty ($50.00) per offense. In the case of a second offense in the same day, the fine shall be fifteen ($15.00) dollars and in the case of a third offense in the same day, the fine shall be twenty-five ($25.00) dollars.

Failure by the operator or owner to make such payment will result in a second written notice of the violation. Failure by the operator or owner to make such payment within five (5) days after the second notice is sent, may result in the issuance of a summons to the operator to appear in Exeter District Court to answer to charges of violating the ordinance.

106 Owner Responsibility

A person shall not allow, permit, or suffer a vehicle registered in his name to stop, stand or park in violation of any ordinances of the Town of Newfields controlling the stopping, standing, or parking, of vehicles and the owner or person in whose name such vehicle is registered shall be held prima facie responsible for such violation.

107 Towing

The Police Department is authorized to remove and tow away, or have removed and towed away by commercial towing service, any abandoned vehicle, or other vehicle illegally parked in a place where it creates or constitutes a traffic hazard, blocks the use of a fire hydrant, blocks the use of a driveway, either public or private, or obstructs or may obstruct snow removal operations in a safe place, and shall be restored to the owner or operator upon payment of all fees for towing and storage.

108 Validity

If any section or part of a section or paragraph of this Article is declared invalid or unconstitutional, it shall not be held to invalidate or impair the validity, force, or effect of any other section or sections, or part of a section of paragraph of this Article.

Webmaster