Section 1604. Local ordinances prohibited

Except as otherwise provided in
  this chapter, local authorities shall have no power to pass, enforce  or
  maintain any ordinance, rule or regulation requiring from any owner of a
  motor  vehicle  or motorcycle, or from any operator or chauffeur to whom
  this chapter is applicable, any tax, fee, license or permit for the  use
  of  the  public  highways,  or  excluding  any  such  owner, operator or
  chauffeur from the free use of  such  public  highways,  excepting  such
  driveway,  speedway or road as has been or may be expressly set apart by
  law for the exclusive use of horses and light carriages, or in any other
  way restricting motor vehicles or motorcycles or their speed upon or use
  of the public highways; or setting aside for any given time a  specified
  public  highway  or  any part thereof constructed in whole or in part at
  the  expense  of  the   state   for   exhibitions,   shows,   exercises,
  entertainments  or  meetings;  and  no  ordinance,  rule  or  regulation
  contrary to or in any wise inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this
  chapter, now in force or hereafter enacted shall have any effect.
    Provided,  however,  that  the  power  given  to  local authorities to
  license and regulate vehicles  offered  to  the  public  for  hire,  and
  processions, assemblages or parades in the streets or public places, and
  all  ordinances,  rules and regulations which may have been or which may
  be enacted in pursuance of such powers shall remain in  full  force  and
  effect.