This article is enacted under authority of Section 6109(a)(22)
of the Vehicle Code and gives authority to the Township to remove and impound
those vehicles which are parked in a tow-away zone and in violation
of parking regulations of this chapter. Vehicles which have been abandoned
(as defined by the Vehicle Code) or which are parked in such a manner
as to interfere with traffic or pose a hazard to others may be towed
under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
The Township of Stowe shall have authority to remove and impound, or to order the removal and impounding, of any vehicle parked overtime or otherwise illegally, provided that the circumstances of its parking were within the conditions stated in §
655-54 of this article, provided no such vehicle shall be removed or impounded except in strict adherence to the provisions of this article or the provisions of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
[Amended 12-12-2000 by Ord. No. 834]
The following designated streets and/or parking lots are hereby
established as tow-away zones. Signs shall be posted to place the
public on notice that their vehicles may be towed for violation of
the Township parking regulations.
Street
|
Side
|
Between
|
---|
Dale Street
|
South
|
Russellwood Avenue and Charles Street
|
Island Avenue [Added 7-14-2015 by Ord.
No. 984]
|
North
|
McCoy Road and Margaret Street
|
Pine Hollow Road [Added 7-14-2015 by Ord.
No. 984]
|
North
|
13th Street and 14th Street
|
Seventh Street [Added 7-14-2015 by Ord.
No. 984]
|
North
|
Woodward Avenue and Broadway Avenue
|
Tunnel Way [Added 7-14-2015 by Ord.
No. 984]
|
East
|
Island Avenue and Seventh Street
|
Removal and impounding of vehicles under this article shall
be done only by approved storage garages that shall be designated
from time to time by the Board of Commissioners. Every such garage
shall submit evidence to the Board of Commissioners that it is bonded
or has acquired liability insurance in an amount satisfactory to the
Board of Commissioners as sufficient to indemnify owners of impounded
vehicles against loss or damage to those vehicles while in the custody
of the garage keeper for the purpose of towing or storage. The approved
storage garage shall submit to the Board of Commissioners its schedule
of charges for towing and storage of vehicles under this article,
and when the schedule is approved by Board of Commissioners, those
charges shall be adhered to by the approved storage garage; no different
schedule of charges shall be demanded of or collected from any person
whose vehicle is removed or impounded under this article by any approved
storage garage. The Board of Commissioners shall delete from its list
of approved storage garages any garage that makes any unapproved charge
in connection with any vehicle removed or impounded under this article.
The payment of towing and storage charges shall not relieve
the owner or driver of any vehicle from liability for any fine or
penalty for the violation of the provisions of this article for which
the vehicle was removed or impounded.
In order to reclaim his vehicle, the owner shall pay towing
and storage costs, plus a $25 fee, of which $10 shall be transferred
to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation by the garage to
which the vehicle was taken.
The Township shall cause a record to be kept of all vehicles
impounded under this article and shall be able, at all reasonable
times, to furnish the owners or the agents of the owners of those
vehicles with information as to the place of storage of the vehicle.
No vehicle shall be removed under the authority of this article
or the Vehicle Code if, at the time of the intended removal, the owner
or the person for the time being in charge of the vehicle is present
and expresses a willingness and intention to remove the vehicle immediately.
[Amended 5-9-2017 by Ord.
No. 999]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of $50, and any
person who shall violate this article for the portion of road on the
west side of Tunnel Way between Island Avenue and Seventh Street shall
be sentenced to pay a fine of $100. In addition, any person who shall
violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof,
be sentenced to pay all costs of disposing of the vehicle under provisions
of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 7301 et seq. (1977),
as hereafter amended, supplemented, modified or reenacted by the General
Assembly of Pennsylvania.
If, after a period of 15 days, the vehicle in storage remains
unclaimed, a report shall be filed with PennDOT, in accordance with
Section 7311 of the Vehicle Code, by the person having legal custody of the vehicle. If
the vehicle has not been claimed after 30 days, the vehicle may be
transferred to a licensed salvor who will then be responsible for
filing the proper reports and disposing of the vehicle in accordance
with the provisions of Chapter 73 of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle
Code (75 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq., as amended).