[Ord. 2008-05, 4/1/2008; as amended by Ord. 2008-11, 7/15/2008]
1.Â
The provisions of this Part are intended to promote and protect public
health, welfare and safety by regulating and restricting the location
of signs, banners, and other advertising devices within the public
rights-of-way within the Township. The regulations are intended to
promote public traffic safety, to protect property values, to create
a more attractive economic climate, to eliminate litter, and to enhance
the scenic and natural beauty of the Township.
3.Â
No temporary signs, banners or other advertising devices or signs
of any type that are of a temporary basis shall be placed within any
sight triangle at the intersection of public or private roads, within
the sight triangle of any driveway and a public or private road, or
in any other location where sight visibility or traffic safety would
be adversely impacted, such as in a recurring manner where the same
or similar sign is placed repetitively (within 20 yards of each other)
on the same property or location, or on a property without the property
owner's consent. For purposes of this Part, the phrase "temporary
signs, banners or other advertising devices" shall mean signs, banners
or other advertising devices placed for a specified period of time,
not to be permanent, including but not limited to signs, banners or
other advertising devices for contractors or mechanics or artisan
signs, banners or other advertising devices, and signs posted on telephone,
electric or streetlight poles or other advertising devices.
4.Â
Removal. Any signs, banners, or other advertising devices which are
placed in violation of this section may be removed by the Township's
Code Enforcement Officer, and the owner of the offending sign, banner
or other device shall be notified of the requirements of this Part.
Upon payment of a fine of $100, the owner may retrieve all signs collected
by the Code Enforcement Officer. If the fine is not paid within 48
hours of notification or the signs are not retrieved within 48 hours
of notification, the signs shall be destroyed. Each time that a violation
of this section of this Part occurs, the fine shall be doubled.
5.Â
The provisions of this Part may be enforced by the Township in an
action in equity brought in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County.
All fines collected by the Township pursuant to this section are in
addition to all other remedies provided by this Part, and the Township's
rights and remedies provided in this Part are cumulative and in addition
to all other remedies provided by law.
6.Â
No signs, banners or other advertising devices of any kind, nature
or duration, except for Township-owned signs, shall be placed on Township-owned
real property, including but not limited to open space, parks, municipal
building and public works.
7.Â
For purposes of this Part, the term "sight triangle" shall mean an
area of unobstructed vision at street or driveway and street intersections
defined by the lines of sight between the points at a given distance
from the intersection of the street right-of-way lines.
[Ord. 2008-05, 4/1/2008; as amended by A.O.]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part 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 Part that is violated
shall also constitute a separate offense.
