[Ord. 3-2007, 11/13/2007, § 1]
This Part shall be known as the "Canton Township Snow Removal
Ordinance."
[Ord. 3-2007, 11/13/2007, § 2]
This Part shall authorize the Township Road Superintendent and/or
his designee the right to declare a state of emergency. He/she shall
issue a written proclamation wherein the state of emergency shall
not exist for more than seven days.
[Ord. 3-2007, 11/13/2007, § 3]
Following the effective date of this Part, it shall be unlawful
to park, or allow to be parked, any motor vehicle or other vehicle,
on any street or road which is part of the Township system or state
road where the Township is authorized to perform winter maintenance
after the start of a snow fall and until the snow has stopped falling
and the snow has been completely plowed for the full width of the
cart way.
[Ord. 3-2007, 11/13/2007, § 4]
Any member of the Pennsylvania State Police Department, or any
employee of Canton Township engaged in road work, is hereby authorized
to have removed by towing any vehicle abandoned or parking upon any
public highway or street in violation of the terms and provisions
of this Part, and to take any said vehicle to the nearest garage or
other place of safety. The registered owner of any said vehicle shall
be notified of the fact of the removal and of the place to which said
vehicle has been removed, where he or she may obtain the same upon
payment of any and all towing and storage charges. Neither the Township
nor any of its officers or employees shall be held responsible for
any damage to any vehicle occurring as a result of towing and/or storage
of a vehicle parked in violation of this Part.
[Ord. 3-2007, 11/13/2007, § 5]
It shall be unlawful for owners, occupants or tenants of property
to dump, throw, shovel, pile or push any snow or ice removed from
driveways or walkways into any public highway or street. No snow,
ice, slush, or a combination thereof shall be pushed or deposited
into any drainage area, stream, river, culvert or catch basin. No
snow, ice, slush, or a combination thereof shall be deposited, pushed
or maintained within a commercial, manufacturing, light industrial
or multiple family zoning district parking facility or at or near
an intersection in any zoning district, in a manner or at a location
which creates a traffic hazard by impairing visibility from or of
a public highway. No person shall damage any Township property including,
but not limited to, traffic signs, culverts, etc., while removing
snow, ice, slush, or a combination thereof. Any damage to Township
property shall be repaired or replaced in accordance with the requirements
of the Township at the expense of the property owner and/or snow removal
agency.
[Ord. 3-2007, 11/13/2007, § 6]
Fire hydrants shall not be covered. The owner is hereby required to remove or cause to be removed all snow, ice, slush, or any combination thereof or any accumulation and/or impediment which would limit access to, from, and/or around all of the fire hydrants which are located on said property, so as to provide immediate access by fire rescue personnel in cases of emergency. In cases involving a storm, fire hydrants shall be cleared of all snow, ice, slush, or any combination thereof within 24 hours following the storm. In any event, any accumulated snow shall be removed not less than once in every twenty-four-hour period. In all other cases involving the accumulation of natural and/or man-made items around fire hydrants the owner is responsible for the immediate removal of said items. In either case fire hydrants shall be cleared sufficiently so emergency personnel have total access to hydrants. This is necessary to allow for fire hose connections to be made to access water in the event of a fire. The owner of a property shall be responsible for conforming to the requirements of this section where such property is occupied by said owner or is unoccupied or vacant. In cases where the owner, occupant, or tenant as aforesaid, shall fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of this section of this Part, or within the time period required therein, the Township of Canton, Washington County, Pennsylvania, may, in its discretion, proceed immediately to clear the snow, ice, slush, or any combination thereof or accumulation and/or impediment which would limit access to, from, and/or around fire hydrants and to collect the expenses, with any additional amount allowed by law, from fine or penalty imposed under § 21-407 of this Part. In no case is the Township of Canton liable if it does not exercise the Township option for removal of snow, ice, slush, any combination thereof or accumulation and/or impediment which would limit access to, from, and/or around fire hydrants as defined within this section.
[Ord. 3-2007, 11/13/2007, § 7; amended at time
of adoption of Code]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial
District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of
not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment
thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation
continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate
offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also
constitute a separate offense.
