[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Willistown 2-13-1996 by Ord. No. 1-1996. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED VEHICLES
As defined by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.
PARK and PARKED
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.
PERSON
Any individual, person, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other entity.
PUBLIC ROAD
Any street, highway, lane or drive maintained by Willistown Township as a public roadway or any state- owned and maintained highway or roadway for which the township provides snow removal and de-icing services under contract with the Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, or any device which may be drawn upon a highway. A vehicle shall include, but not be limited to, a bus, trailer, mobile home, tractor, motorcycle, passenger car, snowmobile, truck, camper, construction equipment, special mobile equipment as defined by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code or any equipment requiring registration or licensing by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
After eight hours following the commencement of any snowfall, ice storm or freezing rain which continues for one hour or more and which results in the implementation of municipal snow removal operations, whether such removal operations are known to the owner of such vehicle or not, it shall be unlawful to park, allow to be parked or keep parked any vehicle on any public road maintained by the township. Following the cessation of any such precipitation, no vehicle shall be parked on any public roadway until it has been completely plowed, cindered and salted for the full width of the paved cartway. This chapter shall be construed so that no portion of any vehicle shall protrude on or be upon the berm or paved cartway of a public road during the prohibited parking period.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon summary conviction before any District Magistrate, be sentenced to pay a fine of $100 and the cost of prosecution, and such fine shall be collected as like fines and costs are now collected by law. Each day or part thereof during which a vehicle remains on a public road in violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense requiring a separate fine and the imposition of separate costs. Upon plea and proof that a person is unable to pay any fine and cost imposed, the District Magistrate may order payment of fine and cost in installments and fix the amounts, time and manner of payment. Any person who does not comply with an order to pay the fine and cost may be imprisoned in the county jail for a number of days equal to one day for each $10 of the unpaid balance of the fine and costs. Prosecutions under this chapter shall be instituted by the issuance of a citation pursuant to the provision provided in the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Any police officer may remove or cause to be removed to a place of safety any unattended or illegally parked vehicle left standing upon any public road during any period prohibited by this chapter when the vehicle is in such a position as to interfere with municipal snow removal, cindering and salting operations; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit any police officer from removal of illegally parked or abandoned vehicles as presently provided in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. In addition to the requirements of this chapter, any vehicle removals ordered by any police officer shall be in strict compliance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. In addition to any other requirements by law imposed, a police officer ordering the removal shall notify the owner, in writing, within 24 hours of the vehicle's removal and its location. All towing and storage costs incurred by Willistown Township pursuant to any vehicle removal shall be paid by the owner thereof to the township prior to the reclamation of such vehicle. Removals hereunder shall be accomplished only by authorized salvors as provided in Chapter 73 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.