Section 1602. Emergency rule  


Latest version.
  • (a)  Whenever a police officer shall deem it
      advisable during a fire or at  the  time  of  any  accident  or  special
      emergency  and  only  for such period of time as is necessitated thereby
      for the public safety or convenience, temporarily to close any street or
      part  thereof  to  vehicular  traffic,  or  to  vehicles  of  a  certain
      description,  or  to divert the traffic thereof, or to divert or break a
      course of  pedestrian  traffic,  such  official  shall  have  power  and
      authority to do so.
        (b)  In  the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic
      or to safeguard pedestrians or property: any  police  officer  or  other
      person  empowered  to  regulate  traffic at the scene may, to the extent
      authorized  by  local  law,  ordinance,  order,  rule,   regulation   or
      administrative  code provision adopted by local authorities with respect
      to  highways  within  their  corporate  boundaries,  direct  traffic  as
      conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or
      of  local  laws,  ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, administrative
      code or sanitary code provisions regulating traffic; and,  in  addition,
      outside of cities and villages any member of the state police may direct
      traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of this
      chapter  or  of  local  laws,  ordinances,  orders, rules or regulations
      regulating traffic.
        (c) Whenever the head of any police force or police department or  the
      chief  executive  officer  of  a  city,  town  or  village shall deem it
      advisable during a snow storm or in order to  remove  snow  or  to  plow
      streets,  provided  that  signs  or markings giving notice are posted as
      required by section sixteen hundred eighty-three of this  chapter,  such
      head  of  the  police  force or police department or the chief executive
      officer of a city, town or village may close any street or part  thereof
      to  vehicular  traffic  or  prohibit,  restrict  or  limit the stopping,
      standing or parking of vehicles.
        (d) The superintendent of the New York state police or the head of any
      police force or police department may authorize the temporary closure of
      any street or part thereof to vehicular traffic, or  to  vehicles  of  a
      certain  description,  or to divert the traffic thereof, or to divert or
      break a course of pedestrian traffic in the following situations:
        1. during the time of  any  speed  contest,  exhibition  of  speed  or
      similar  special  event  which  is being held pursuant to section eleven
      hundred eighty-two-a of this chapter;
        2. during the time of the filming of any movie, commercial or  similar
      event  which  is  being  undertaken  pursuant  to section eleven hundred
      eighty-two-b of this chapter.