Traffic control operations on public roadways in Centralia are overseen by public agencies called traffic authorities. Officers of a traffic authority are called traffic marshals.
Contents
Organization
Like law enforcement agencies, traffic authorities exist at both the national and municipal levels of government. The Royal Centralia Traffic Authority, a division of CenDOT, serves national highways, local roads outside of municipalities, and city streets within municipalities with a population under 50,000. Municipalities with a population of 50,000 or greater are required to maintain their own traffic authorities. Examples include the QueenCity Metropolitan Traffic Authority and the Traffic Authority of Riverside.
Uniforms
The typical uniform of a traffic marshal consists of a high-visibility safety vest marked TRAFFIC over a grey polo shirt, worn with black slacks. The safety vest may be of any color, though blaze orange is the most common, to distinguish from the fluorescent yellow-green vests worn by police. The vest must be worn at all times while working on or near a roadway.
Vehicles and equipment
Most vehicles used exclusively for traffic control are light-duty trucks painted in safety orange, marked with retroreflective conspicuity tape and the word TRAFFIC. Traffic control vehicles are typically equipped with an electronic arrow board and green flashing warning lights and typically carry traffic cones, road flares, and a selection of commonly used signs, such as ROAD CLOSED, LANE CLOSED, and portable stop signs.
Former police vehicles are often repurposed as traffic control vehicles, repainted safety orange. Such vehicles are often used primarily for parking enforcement, especially in urban areas.
Duties
Traffic control
The primary function of a traffic authority is traffic control.
Traffic marshals are empowered to act as a traffic control device, and drivers are required to comply with the directions of a traffic marshal. While traffic marshals do not have police powers, they may report violations to the RoyalHighwayPatrol or local police if deemed necessary.
Accident investigation
Traffic authorities are tasked with the investigation of motor vehicle collisions, including establishing fault and liability. Traffic authorities do not perform enforcement actions such as issuing citations, but may report suspected traffic code violations to the RoyalHighwayPatrol or local police for investigation.
Roadside assistance
Parking enforcement
Traffic authorities are responsible for the enforcement of parking regulations on public streets and public parking lots, as well as the enforcement of disability parking restrictions in private parking lots. Larger traffic authorities often maintain a dedicated parking enforcement division.
Escorts
Civilian traffic escorts, such as for funeral processions or oversized freight transport, are carried out by traffic marshals. Unlike those led by police or military escorts, motorcades escorted by civilian traffic marshals are required to observe traffic control devices such as stop signs and traffic signals. However, once the lead escort vehicle has entered the intersection in compliance with applicable traffic control devices, the traffic code allows all other vehicles in the motorcade to proceed through the intersection regardless of any signals or stop signs.
Tourist information (Serenity Circle)
Within the SerenityCircle, the small district immediately surrounding the PalaceOfSerenity, there are no traffic signals, and major intersections are controlled by marshals of the QueenCity Metropolitan Traffic Authority at all times. It is common for tourists to stop in an intersection and attempt to ask the traffic marshal for directions. As this creates a hazardous distraction for the marshal directing traffic, the QCMTA has implemented a tourist information program. Every day, a small number of Serenity Circle traffic marshals are assigned to "tourist duty", walking about the district providing directions and information to members of the public.
Traffic marshals on tourist duty wear a distinct uniform, featuring a fluorescent pink high-visibility vest marked INFORMATION, to differentiate themselves from those actively performing traffic control duties. If a marshal is asked for directions while directing traffic, they will direct the driver to the nearest tourist information guide: "Please go talk to my colleague in the pink vest. They should be able to help you."