Traffic control operations on public roadways in Centralia are overseen by public agencies called traffic authorities. Like LawEnforcement agencies, traffic authorities exist at both the national and municipal levels of government, with the Royal Centralia Traffic Authority carrying out traffic control duties on national highways and outside of municipalities, while municipalities maintain their own traffic authorities to operate on city streets.

Officers of a traffic authority are called traffic marshals.

Uniforms

The typical uniform of a traffic marshal consists of a high-visibility safety vest marked TRAFFIC over a grey polo shirt, worn with khaki 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

Vehicles used exclusively for traffic control are usually fluorescent yellow-green light-duty trucks, equipped with an electronic arrow board and amber and green flashing warning lights. Traffic control trucks 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, painted fluorescent yellow-green. Such vehicles are often used primarily for parking enforcement, especially in urban areas.

Duties

Traffic control

Accident 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 agencies often maintain a dedicated parking enforcement division.

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