[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Towamencin 5-24-1982 by Ord. No. 82-2. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The provisions of this chapter are designed to secure, promote
and protect the public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare,
peace and quiet of the residents of Towamencin Township by requiring
the registration of motorized vehicles and regulating the use thereof
in order to alleviate problems, such as but not limited to loud, unnecessary
and unusual noises within the Township, damage and destruction of
personal property, unauthorized use of private lands, disturbances
through the creation of unnecessary dust and debris and other inconveniences
caused by motorized vehicles to the residents of Towamencin Township.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any vehicle propelled by motor which may or may not be licensed
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including but not limited to
all vehicles which are required to be licensed by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania for use on public highways but which are not licensed
because of the owner's intention not to use said vehicles on
public highways and all other motorized vehicles which are not covered
by the Vehicle Code or other applicable statutes of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. This definition shall not be construed to include
properly licensed motor vehicles operated upon the public highways,
streets, roads and private driveways in accordance with the law, power
lawn mowers and garden tractors, agricultural equipment used in the
course of farming or commercial equipment being properly used in trade
or business by the owner or on the owner's behalf.
All houses, apartments, mobile homes and other permanent
structures occupied by one or more persons as their primary home and
residence.
Towamencin Township.
No person, firm, association, corporation or other entity shall
own, possess, keep, maintain, use or operate, or permit to be possessed,
kept, maintained, used or operated, any motorized vehicle within the
Township without first obtaining a registration permit.
Application for a motorized vehicle registration permit shall
be made to the Chief of Police or other authorized representative
within 30 days after the vehicle is brought into the Township, on
forms prescribed by him, which shall set forth, among other information
deemed to be required, the full name, address and telephone number
of the owner; the manufacturer, name, serial number and a general
description of the motorized vehicle; and the name, address and telephone
number of all owners of property not owned by the applicant upon which
the applicant has permission to operate the motorized vehicle and
the location thereof.
A.
Upon approval of the application and payment of the proper fee, the
Chief of Police or other authorized representative shall issue a registration
permit for the motorized vehicle to the applicant.
B.
The fee for each registration permit shall be $5 per motorized vehicle.
The fee fixed herein may be modified from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Supervisors.
C.
The registration permit shall be affixed to the motorized vehicle
and displayed in a readily visible manner on the rear of the motorized
vehicle at all times.
D.
The registration permit shall remain valid unless revoked, as hereinafter
provided, or until there shall be a change of ownership of the motorized
vehicle. The change of ownership shall terminate the registration
permit.
A.
The sound level of a motorized vehicle operated within the Township
shall not exceed 73 decibels at a distance of 50 feet.
B.
Every motorized vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler
in good working order which is in constant operation. No muffler cutout,
bypass or similar device shall be installed or used on a motorized
vehicle within the Township.
C.
A motorized vehicle shall be operated only during daylight hours,
with operation specifically prohibited prior to one hour before sunrise
and later than one hour after sunset, except that operation will be
permitted during dark hours if not within 500 feet of a private residence.
D.
A motorized vehicle shall not be operated on private property of
another without the express written permission of the owner or occupant
of the property. The written permission shall be in the possession
of the operator when the motorized vehicle is being operated on the
private property.
E.
A motorized vehicle shall not be operated on public school grounds
without express permission or provision to do so by the proper governing
authorities of the school district.
F.
A motorized vehicle shall not be operated on publicly owned property,
parks, playgrounds or recreational areas without express provision
or permission to do so by the appropriate public authority. The Township
Park Board may, with the approval of the Board of Supervisors, from
time to time, establish areas of use on municipally owned or controlled
lands where motorized vehicles may be ridden.
G.
A motorized vehicle shall not be operated in a careless, reckless
or negligent manner that would endanger the safety of any person or
property.
H.
A motorized vehicle shall not be operated in such a manner as to
raise or cause excessive amounts of dust or debris.
I.
A motorized vehicle shall not be operated in such a manner as to
damage or destroy any real or personal property of another. In addition
to any other penalties for the violation of this chapter, a violator
of this subsection shall be liable to make restitution for any damage
caused to private or public property.
J.
A motorized vehicle shall not be operated on a sidewalk or within
the right-of-way of any public or private street being maintained
or used as a thoroughfare for legally licensed vehicular traffic unless
the operator has a valid motor vehicle operator's license and
the motorized vehicle is properly registered and licensed with the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a motor vehicle. All provisions of
the Vehicle Code and Township ordinances regulating equipment and
operation will apply to such use.
K.
One person only shall operate a motorized vehicle. The operator shall
not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on said
motorized vehicle unless such motorized vehicle is designed to carry
more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the
permanent and regular seat if designed for two persons or upon another
seat permanently attached to the vehicle to the rear or side of the
operator.
L.
A motorized vehicle shall not be left unattended with the engine
running while located on property not owned by or under the control
of the owner or operator of the motorized vehicle.
All motorized vehicles operated within the Township shall have
the following equipment in addition to or in conjunction with all
equipment required by the Vehicle Code if the motorized vehicle is
licensed as a motor vehicle:
A.
Any person, firm, association, corporation or other entity who shall
violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction,
be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $50 for the first offense
and a fine of not more than $300 for a second and subsequent offenses.
B.
Upon conviction of a third or subsequent offense, the
Township shall have the right to revoke for a period of one year the
registration permit of the owner committing said offenses or permitting
said offenses to occur.