Code of Massachusetts Regulations
700 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Title 700 CMR 5.000 - Regulation Of Certain Roadways And Bridges
Section 5.501 - Definitions Applicable to 700 CMR 5.502 through 5.505

The following words and phrases when used in 700 CMR 5.502 through 5.505 shall for the purpose of 700 CMR 5.502 through 5.505 have the meanings respectively ascribed to them except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

Whenever any words and phrases used in are 700 CMR 5.502 through 5.505 not defined in 700 CMR 5.502 through 5.505 but are defined in the Massachusetts General Laws regulating the operation of vehicles, any such definition in the M.G.L. shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used in 700 CMR 5.502 through 5.505.

Bus. Vehicles designed for carrying more than eight passengers and used primarily for the transportation of persons either for compensation, as a service, or as an adjunct to a school program.

Bus Stop. An area in the roadway adjacent to the curb or edge of the roadway set aside for the boarding of or alighting from buses.

Commercial Vehicles. Any vehicle registered for commercial purposes, bearing commercial vehicle number plates, including trailer or semi-trailer, and designed and used primarily for the transportation or delivery of goods, wares, merchandise or equipment, or designed and used for the delivery of utility services or for field services related to maintenance/repair of buildings. The vehicle must display permanently painted or sealed/adhered and plainly marked on both sides of the vehicle's body, exclusive of the windows, and on at least three separate lines, the name of the business entity owning or utilizing the vehicle, the full business address, and the telephone number. The name of the business entity must be displayed in letters or numbers a minimum of three inches in height and the full business address and telephone number must be displayed in letters or numbers a minimum of two inches in height. The business entity may substitute its e-mail address or its web site address for the full business address provided that at least three separate lines are used to display the required information. All lettering and numbers shall have a stroke width of at least 3/8 of an inch and shall be in a color clearly contrasting with the background color of the vehicle's body and shall be placed on the upper portion of the door panels or the body panels of the vehicle.

Crosswalk. the portion of a roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or continuation of curb lines and property lines at intersections or at any portion of the roadway clearly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines on the road surface, other markings, signs or cobblestones.

Curb Loading Zone. A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of materials.

Curb Marking. that portion of a curbing, the painting of which has been authorized by the Commissioner or his designee, and which serves as a supplementary warning of a parking restriction. Curb markings alone shall not be construed to be adequate warning for the purpose of enforcement.

Driveway. A private road serving as a means of a vehicular access to a parcel of land abutting a highway or street.

Government Vehicles. Those vehicles registered to any City or Town, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, any Official Agency thereof, or to the Government of the United States are all defined as Government Vehicles. These vehicles must bear distinctive license plates so indicating to be so considered for the purposes of the DCR parking regulations and any exemptions therefrom referred to in 700 CMR 5.000.

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 M.G.L. c. 90, § 1, including divided ways.

Metropolitan Way. A public way in which the fee or an easement of travel is owned by the Commonwealth and the establishment, maintenance and use of which are subject to the control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation except as otherwise provided by law.

Official Traffic Control Devices. All signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with 350 CMR and which are placed or erected by authority of the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the purpose of guiding, directing, warning or regulating traffic.

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.

Parkland. All areas within DCR reservations dedicated to park purposes by the Department of Conservation and Recreation including, but not limited to, grass, dirt, or other unpaved areas unless specifically designated for the purpose of vehicle parking or vehicle access by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Parkway, Street or Highway. The entire width between the boundary lines of every way under the care and control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for the purposes of vehicular traffic.

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

Railroad Crossing Including Street Railways. Any intersection of ways with a railroad right of way.

Roadway. That portion of a highway between the regularly established curb lines or that part, exclusive of shoulders, improved and intended to be used for vehicular traffic.

Service Way .A way in which the fee or an easement of travel is owned by the Commonwealth from which the public may be excluded.

Sidewalk. That portion of a roadway or parkway under the care and control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation set aside for pedestrian travel.

Stand or Standing. Means the halting of a vehicle whether occupied or not, otherwise than for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.

Stop or Stopping. When prohibited means any halting even momentarily of a vehicle whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of an Authorized Police officer or traffic control sign or signal.

Traffic. Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars and other conveyances either singularly or together while using any highway for purpose of travel.

Traffic Control Signal. Any device using colored lights, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which the traffic may be alternately directed to stop and to proceed.

Vehicle. 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 700 CMR 5.50 1 through 5.505 is applicable to them, except other devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.