[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Perkiomen 2-3-2015 by Ord. No. 223.[1]]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Accumulation of garbage; junked vehicles — See Ch. 241, Art. II.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 287, Vehicles, Abandoned, adopted 11-4-1996 by Ord. No. 159, as amended.
The Board of Supervisors of Perkiomen Township has determined that hazardous and unsafe conditions within the Township exist when large vehicles are parked on streets in the Township; vehicles are abandoned on public or private property; and sports equipment is left unattended in or on streets or rights-of-way in the Township. These hazardous and unsafe conditions are detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Perkiomen Township and others, impede emergency vehicles (including fire trucks, ambulances, etc.), interfere with snow removal, and otherwise disrupt the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of the residents of Perkiomen Township in their homes and neighborhoods. The Board of Supervisors has determined that the adoption of this chapter is necessary to remediate the foregoing.
The following words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section, unless the context of the Ordinance clearly indicates otherwise, and the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.
ABANDONED VEHICLE
A vehicle (other than a pedalcycle) shall be presumed to be abandoned under any of the following circumstances, but the presumption is rebuttable by a preponderance of the evidence:
A. 
The vehicle is physically inoperable and is left unattended on a street or other public property for more than 48 hours.
B. 
The vehicle has remained illegally on a street or other public property for a period of more than 48 hours.
C. 
The vehicle is left unattended on or along a street or other public property for more than 48 hours and does not bear all of the following:
(1) 
A valid registration plate.
(2) 
A certificate of inspection.
(3) 
An ascertainable vehicle identification number.
D. 
The vehicle has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than 48 hours.
E. 
For purposes of this chapter, vehicles and equipment used or to be used in construction or in the operation or maintenance of street or public utility facilities, which are left in a manner which does not interfere with the normal movement of traffic, shall not be considered to be abandoned.
LARGE VEHICLES
A. 
The following, as defined by 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 102, as amended from time to time: articulated bus, combination, construction truck, driveaway-towaway operation, farm equipment, full trailer, house trailer, limousine (capable of carrying 10 or more passengers), maxi-cube vehicle, mobile home, motor home, recreational trailer, semitrailer, stinger-steered automobile or boat transporter, tow dolly, trailer, truck-camper, and truck tractor.
B. 
Boats, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and similar off-road vehicles and water vessels, pickup campers, boat trailers, tent trailers, self-storage containers, intermodal containers, dumpsters, portable storage containers, cases or boxes used for transporting recreational equipment, tools, or home furnishings (whether containing those items or not), and other similar or like vehicles, devices, or property.
PARK OR PARKING
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading property or passengers.
SALVOR
A person engaged in the business of acquiring abandoned vehicles for the purpose of taking apart, junking, selling, rebuilding, or exchanging the vehicles or parts thereof and who has a certificate of authorization as a salvor required by Chapter 73 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
STREET
Any street, road, highway, lane, court, cul-de-sac, alley, path, public way, right-of-way, or public property within Perkiomen Township.
UNATTENDED SPORTS EQUIPMENT
Portable basketball poles, portable soccer goals/nets, portable street hockey goals/nets, skateboard ramps, roller blade ramps, and similar sports equipment not actually then being used for the particular purpose for which it was designed and manufactured.
No person shall park, cause to be parked, or permit to be parked any large vehicle on any street within the limits of Perkiomen Township. For purposes of this chapter, the definition of "large vehicle" shall not include any emergency vehicle as defined by 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 102.
No person shall abandon a vehicle on any street or private property without the express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property. Upon written request of the Township Code Enforcement Officer, a salvor is hereby authorized to take possession of, and remove to the storage facility of the salvor, any abandoned vehicle located within 30 miles of the place of business of the salvor for storage and disposition in accordance with the procedures required by Chapter 73 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
[Amended 11-3-2015 by Ord. No. 225]
A. 
Beginning November 1 each year, and continuing until March 31 of the following year, no unattended sports equipment shall be left in or on any street or right-of-way within the limits of Perkiomen Township. From April 1 to October 31 each year, upon written, oral, or electronic request by the Code Enforcement Officer of Perkiomen Township, or his designee, all unattended sports equipment shall be removed immediately by, and at the expense of, the owner. Instances when the Township might make such a request include, but are not limited to, the start of a road project, street sweeping, utility work, tree trimming, street sign placement, and other similar activity.
B. 
An owner's failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute authorization for the Township to remove the unattended sports equipment without further notice, and, without responsibility or liability for any damage caused thereto. The Township's right to remove any such unattended sports equipment shall be in addition to any other rights and/or enforcement remedies available to the Township elsewhere in this section or otherwise available by law.
C. 
When any person allows the installation or erection of any type of sports equipment in or on any street or right-of-way in Perkiomen Township, and whenever any person allows another, including a child, to use or play with such equipment in the street or right-of-way in Perkiomen Township, he/she assumes the risk of any and all damage or injury caused or resulting therefrom. Further, no provision of this section shall create liability on the part of Perkiomen Township, nor any officer, Supervisor, or employee thereof, for any damage or injury resulting from the installation, erection, or use of any sports equipment in or on any street or right-of-way in Perkiomen Township.
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine as set forth in 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 7312, together with all costs of disposing of the vehicle under provisions of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa. C.S.A. § 7301 et seq.