This article is enacted under authority of § 6109(a)(22)
of the Vehicle Code, and gives authority to the Township of Warwick 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 Warwick 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 §
177-31 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.
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 Warwick Township parking regulations.
Street
|
Side
|
Between
|
Parking Lot
|
---|
(Reserved)
|
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 Township Board of Supervisors.
Every such garage shall submit evidence to Township Board of Supervisors
that it is bonded or has acquired liability insurance in an amount
satisfactory to Township Board of Supervisors 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 Township Board
of Supervisors its schedule of charges for towing and storage of vehicles
under this article, and, when the schedule is approved by Township
Board of Supervisors, 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. Township Board
of Supervisors 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 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.
Warwick 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 of 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).