Township of West Whiteland, PA Chapter 247 Public Property, Protection of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Whiteland 10-7-1968 by Ord. No. 14 (Ch. 6, Part 1, of the 1983 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 224.

Damage to sewers — See Ch. 253, § 253-16.

Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 276.

§ 247-1 General intent.

The purpose of this chapter is to protect public property, real and personal.

§ 247-2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE

All damage other than willful damage.

PUBLIC PROPERTY

All property, real and personal, devoted to the public use, whether owned by a public body or not. The term shall include but is not limited to:

A. All Township land and buildings;

B. All personal property owned by the Township;

C. All property used by or on behalf of the Township, including motor vehicles operated by Township police and motor vehicles operated for the repair of Township roads and for removal of snow from Township roads;

D. All motor vehicles and other equipment owned and/or operated by the West Whiteland Fire Company or other fire companies while on duty fighting a fire, quelling a riot or similar activities within the corporate boundaries of West Whiteland Township;

E. All traffic signs;

F. All directional signs;

G. All street signs and other signs indicating the boundaries of the Township or other locations within the Township;

H. All public roads, curbs, drainage pipes, bridges and similar structures.

§ 247-3 Prohibited acts; violations and penalties.

[Amended 11-7-1983 by Ord. No. 97]

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully deface, destroy, mar or move, tamper with or otherwise injure or damage personal property, or to cause, assist, aid or abet any other person in willfully defacing, destroying, marring, removing, tampering with or otherwise injuring or damaging any public property.

B. All persons accidentally defacing, destroying, marring, removing, tampering with or otherwise injuring or damaging public property shall report such fact in writing to the Township Secretary within 24 hours and shall reimburse the Township for any injury or damage done as described above within 10 days of the receipt of a bill from the Township.

C. Any person, firm or corporation who violates or permits the violation of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a fine in the amount of at least $25, but not to exceed $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township. Upon a finding of liability for committing said violation or permitting said violation, in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township, the defendant shall pay the fine, plus all court costs, including attorney fees. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of determination of a violation by a District Justice. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules of Civil Procedure.

[Amended 6-10-1997 by Ord. No. 257]

D. West Whiteland Township may pay a reward of $25 to the first person furnishing information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons who have violated the provisions hereof.