§ 20-169. Powers of local authorities.

§ 20‑169.  Powers oflocal authorities.

Local authorities, except asexpressly authorized by G.S. 20‑141 and 20‑158, shall have no poweror authority to alter any speed limitations declared in this Article or toenact or enforce any rules or regulations contrary to the provisions of thisArticle, except that local authorities shall have power to provide byordinances for any of the following:

(1)        Regulating trafficby means of traffic or semaphores or other signaling devices on any portion ofthe highway where traffic is heavy or continuous.

(2)        Prohibiting otherthan one‑way traffic upon certain highways.

(3)        Regulating the useof the highways by processions or assemblages.

(4)        Regulating the speedof vehicles on highways in public parks.

(5)        Authorizing lawenforcement or fire department vehicles, ambulances, and rescue squad emergencyservice vehicles, equipped with a siren to preempt any traffic signals uponcity streets within local authority boundaries or, with the approval of theDepartment of Transportation, on State highways within the boundaries of localauthorities. The Department of Transportation shall respond to requests forapproval within 60 days of receipt of a request.

Signs shall be erected givingnotices of the special limits and regulations under subdivisions (1) through(4) of this section. (1937, c. 407, s. 131; 1949, c. 947, s. 2; 1955, c.384, s. 2; 1963, c. 559; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1979, c. 298, s. 2; 1991, c. 530,s. 5; 1999‑310, s. 1.)