[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Trappe 7-7-1975 by Ord. No. 195 (Part 6, Ch. 2, Art. A, of the 1987 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Firearms — See Ch. 162.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EXPLOSIVES
The term "explosive" or "explosives" whenever used in this chapter shall be deemed to mean any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly or actually used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion that contains any oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportion, quantity or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction or concussion by percussion, or by detonation of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressure is capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb. Said terms shall be deemed to include dynamite in any form or quantity, dynamite caps or blasting compounds or equipment. Said term shall not include any small arms, ammunition or devices or compositions actually intended and used to obtain visible or audible pyrotechnic effects nor explosives in the forms prescribed in the official United States Pharmacopeia. Such terms shall not be deemed to include explosives produced or stored in experimental quantities in the laboratories of high schools, colleges or similar institutions by the duly qualified personnel of such institutions for the purpose of investigation and instruction.
INTERPRETATION
This chapter shall not supersede any provision of state or federal law or regulations that is in conflict with or identical to any provision of this chapter, but is to be construed as to be correlated with any such statutes and regulations. It is the intent of the Borough that any provision of this chapter that is stricter than or in addition to any such statute or regulation shall be in effect and shall be enforced within the Borough, subject to the penalties prescribed by § 151-11 for a violation of this chapter.
PERSON
The term "person" when used in this chapter shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association, company, organization, or group of any kind, including Borough employees.
STORAGE
The use of the term "storage" in this chapter shall mean the keeping in any vehicle, trailer, truck, building, shed, enclosure, or outdoors or at any place whatsoever within the limits of the Borough.
TRANSPORTATION
The term "transportation" as used in this chapter shall mean the moving by vehicle, cart, by hand or otherwise of any of the articles mentioned in this chapter from one place to another within the Borough limits to another place within the limits of the Borough.
USE
The term "use" when employed in this chapter shall be deemed to mean and to include any handling, disposition, employment, placing or use as commonly understood and defined of any of the articles mentioned in this chapter except those conducted by the duly qualified and authorized professional personnel of accredited high schools and colleges or the students thereof under professional supervision for research, investigation and instruction.
No person shall manufacture any explosives in the Borough.
No person shall have, keep, use, store, sell or transport any explosive or explosives nor do, perform, conduct, supervise, or permit any blasting or detonation of explosives or blasting materials within the Borough at any time whatsoever unless that person shall have obtained and have in his possession and/or properly exhibited a valid permit duly issued by the secretary as specified in §§ 151-4 through 151-6, and then only in accordance with the conditions and subject to the limitations specified on the permit.
An applicant seeking issuance of a permit shall execute an application in writing on a form to be prescribed by the Public Safety Committee and provided by the secretary or the Public Safety Committee. Every applicant shall set forth on the form the following specified information:
A. 
The complete name, address and identity of the person, proposing to transport, store, keep or use explosives or do the blasting, and the name, address and identity of the specific individual who shall be in charge.
B. 
Whether or not the applicant or any employee of applicant is involved in any litigation, either civil or criminal, the names of any pending cases, the jurisdiction, court, term and number and whether there have been any fines levied or judgments rendered at any time against applicant for damages growing out of the storage or use of explosives.
C. 
The type and extent of applicant's operations and the projects contemplated (so far as known or ascertainable at the time application is made) in connection with which blasting will be conducted.
D. 
The type or kind of explosives generally used by applicant.
E. 
The applicant shall promise and agree upon the application forms to be furnished by the secretary that the applicant will be fully liable for and promises to pay for any and all damages of every kind and nature resulting to any person or property for the conduct of the blasting operations and that the applicant will display at all times the permit on the premises designated therein.
F. 
Every applicant shall supply satisfactory proof before a permit is issued that he shall have provided and maintains at reasonably accessible points adequate fire-extinguishing equipment wherever explosives are stored, transported, sold or used.
G. 
Fees. All applications shall be accompanied by a fee in the sum of $20 payable to the Borough, except that applications for annual renewal of license made at or before the expiration of the previous shall be $10 and fees may be waived as to employees of the Borough applying for permits in the course of performance of Borough business.
Every applicant, as a condition precedent to issuance of a permit, shall furnish an irrevocable bond in the sum of $300,000 or more or evidence to the secretary or Public Safety Committee that there is and will continue to be in full force a public liability insurance policy against personal injury and property damage in an amount of not less than $300,000 for any one accident, which liability insurance coverage must remain in effect during the entire period of the blasting operations.
A. 
Permits for any of the purposes enumerated in this section and in § 151-3 may be issued on the recommendation of a majority of the Public Safety Committee by and upon the signature of the secretary upon compliance by applicant with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations established under this chapter by the Public Safety Committee.
B. 
Separate annual permits shall be required for each of the following:
(1) 
Transporting and/or storing and/or selling of any explosive or explosives;
(2) 
Transporting and/or using for blasting of any explosive or explosives.
C. 
A permit shall be valid only for a period of one year from the date of issuance and shall be subject to all limitations and provisions of this chapter.
D. 
The permit for transporting explosives shall designate the time when and the route on which those explosives may be transported. A police escort shall be required where the aggregate amount of explosives being transported on any one vehicle is more than 50 pounds.
E. 
Every vehicle while carrying explosives shall have painted on its front, sides and back the letters easily legible at least four inches high, in contrasting colors, the word "Explosives," or in lieu thereof shall display in such manner that it will be visible from all directions a red flag with the words "Danger" printed, stamped or sewn thereon in white letters. The flag shall be at least 24 inches square and the letters shall be at least six inches high.
F. 
No person shall be permitted to smoke in or on a vehicle containing explosives or drive any such vehicle while intoxicated or drive any such vehicle or conduct himself in a careless or reckless manner or load or unload any such vehicle while the motor is running or in a careless manner or while smoking or intoxicated nor shall any such vehicle be left unattended while it contains explosives.
G. 
No person shall be permitted to place, carry or cause to be placed or carried in the same compartment or the bed or body of any vehicle containing explosives any metal tool or other piece of metal, any matches, and exploders, detonators, blasting caps, or other similar explosive material or any other merchandise or equipment, provided the restriction as to tools and metals shall not apply to plumbing contractors licensed by the Borough when carrying less than 10 pounds of such explosives.
No blasting shall be permitted except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There shall be no blasting on legal holidays. Blasting operations shall be conducted by the permit holder in a safe, careful manner, with full, proper and adequate safety precautions and protection to all persons and property and after suitable public warning at the expense and responsibility of the permit holder.
The permit holder shall be fully liable for any and all damages of every kind and nature resulting to any person or property from the conduct of the blasting operation and from the storage or transportation of explosives. This chapter shall not be so construed as to impose or increase liability upon the Borough, its agents, representatives or employees.
A. 
Any person holding a valid permit may store explosives only in a magazine complying with the construction specifications for magazines containing explosives issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and at such places as comply with the American Table of Distances issued by the Institute of Makers of Explosives, and an accurate record shall be kept at all times showing the size and contents of each container or package of explosives so stored.
B. 
Blasting caps or detonators of any kind shall not be kept in the same magazine with other explosives, and such magazines must be kept clean and free from grit, rubbish and empty packages.
C. 
All magazines containing explosives must be kept locked except when in actual process of being inspected or when explosives are being placed therein or are being removed therefrom. All explosives and portable magazines must be stored at the end of each working day in a permanent locked magazine.
A. 
Whenever the Mayor or secretary find that any person holding a permit or obtained the permit with false information in the application or violated any of the conditions of the permit or of this chapter or finds that the conduct of the permit holder is willful or creates a fire or explosion hazard requiring corrective action, the Mayor or secretary shall certify that violation to Council and shall forthwith suspend the permit.
B. 
Council, upon being notified of the suspension of permit, or upon its own motion upon information received of careless conduct or violations of this chapter requiring corrective action may be majority vote revoke any permit. Before such final revocation of permit, at least five days notice of a hearing before council shall be given to the permit holder of the time and place of hearing, at which time a fair hearing shall be accorded the permit holder.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, shall, for every such violation, upon conviction before a Magisterial District Judge, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300 and costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of fine and costs, to imprisonment for not more than 30 days; provided, each separate offense or violation of any provision of this chapter, and each day on which any offense or violation takes place shall constitute a separate violation and shall be subject to a separate penalty.