This article is enacted under authority of § 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 article. 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.
[Amended 9-26-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-03]
The Township 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 §
312-42 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. Police officers of the Township are hereby authorized persons permitted to remove and impound vehicles pursuant to the provisions of this article and the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. Community service officers of the Township are hereby authorized persons permitted to remove and impound 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, and may be towed under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
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
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Side
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Between
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Parking Lot
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Reserved
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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 provision 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.
Any person who shall violate any provision of
this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a
fine of $50 together with 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 § 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).