A.ย
Words and phrases, when used in this chapter, except for sections
or articles to which different or additional definitions apply, shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Vehicle Code (the Act of
June 17, 1976, P.L. 162, No. 81),[1] as amended, except that, in this chapter, the word "street"
may be used interchangeably with the word "highway" and shall have
the same meaning as the word "highway," as defined in the Vehicle
Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 75 Pa.C.S.A. ยง 101 et seq.
B.ย
The term "legal holidays" as used in this chapter shall mean and
include New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Flag Day, Columbus Day.
C.ย
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural, the plural
shall include the singular, and the masculine shall include the feminine.
All traffic and parking regulations of a permanent nature shall
be enacted as ordinances, as parts of ordinances, as amendments to
ordinances, or as amendments to this chapter, except where the law
specifically authorizes less formal action.
The provisions of this chapter, so far as they are the same
as those of ordinances and regulations in force immediately before
the enactment of this chapter, are intended as a continuation of those
earlier ordinances and regulations and not as new enactments. Nothing
in this chapter shall affect any act done or liability incurred or
any suit or prosecution pending or to be instituted under any of those
repealed or superseded ordinances or regulations.
A.ย
The Mayor shall have the following powers to regulate traffic and
parking temporarily and in time of emergency:
(1)ย
In the case of fire, flood, storm or other emergency, to establish
temporary traffic and/or parking regulations; and
(2)ย
In the case of emergency or to facilitate public works, or in the
conduct of parades, processions or public events, to restrict or prohibit
traffic and/or parking in limited areas for periods of not more than
72 hours.
B.ย
Such temporary and emergency regulations shall be enforced by the
Police Department in the same manner as permanent regulations. Any
person who shall operate or park a vehicle or tractor in violation
of any such regulations or who shall move, remove, destroy, injure
or deface any sign or marking erected, posted or made to give notice
of any such regulation shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject
to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere in this chapter for
a violation of such nature and, in case of a violation for which no
specific penalty is set forth in the law or elsewhere in this chapter,
to a fine of not more than $25 together with costs of prosecution.
The City Council may, from time to time by resolution, designate
places upon and along the highways in the City where, for a period
of not more than 90 days, specific traffic and/or parking regulations,
prohibitions and restrictions shall be in force and effect, and shall
designate such locations by proper signs and markings. Such regulations,
prohibitions and restrictions shall be effective as is they had been
specified in this chapter. No person shall operate or park a vehicle
or tractor in violation of any such regulation, prohibition or restriction
and no person shall move, remove, destroy or deface any sign or marking
erected, posted or made by authority of this section. Any person who
shall violate any provision of this section shall, upon conviction
thereof, be subject to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere
in this chapter for a violation of such nature and, in case of a violation
for which no specific penalty is set forth in the law or elsewhere
in this chapter, to a fine of not more than $25 together with costs
of prosecution, provided the purpose of this section is to allow for
the test and experimental determination of the feasibility and desirability
of permanent changes in the ordinances of the City relative to traffic
and parking.
A.ย
The Mayor shall have authority to close any street or specific part
of a street to vehicular traffic and to place barriers or station
police officers at each end of the closed portion while construction
or maintenance work is under way or a special event is being conducted
on the closed portion. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive
a vehicle upon any such closed portion.
B.ย
The Mayor shall have authority to establish a restricted traffic
area upon any street where construction or maintenance work is under
way and to station flagmen at each end of the restricted portion.
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle upon any such
restricted traffic area at any time when the flagman is displaying
a sign directing that vehicle to stop or is signaling that vehicle,
by a flag or other device, not to proceed.
C.ย
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, upon
conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and costs.
A.ย
ASSEMBLAGE
PROCESSION
For the purpose of this section, the words "assemblage" and "procession"
shall have the following meanings:
A gathering of people without vehicles which interferes with
the movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on any street.
A group of individuals, vehicles, animals and/or objects
moving along a street in a way that interferes with the normal movement
of traffic. A procession shall not include a funeral caravan or military
convoy.
B.ย
It shall be unlawful for any person to hold or participate in any
assemblage unless the person organizing or conducting the assemblage
first obtains a permit from the Mayor, which shall be issued without
a fee. Application for the permit shall be made at least one week
in advance of the day on which the assemblage is proposed to be held,
but in any case where a state-designated highway is proposed to be
used, application shall be made at least three weeks in advance of
the proposed date. The permit shall state the place where and the
date when the assemblage is to be held, the hour when the assemblage
may convene and the hour by which it shall have been completely dispersed.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hold or to participate in any
assemblage unless the permit has been granted or at any time or place
other than that authorized by the permit.
C.ย
It shall be unlawful for any person to hold or participate in any
procession unless the person organizing or conducting the procession
first obtains a permit from the Mayor, which shall be issued without
fee. Application for the permit shall be made at least two weeks in
advance of the day when the procession is proposed to be held, but
in any case where a state-designated highway is proposed to be used,
application shall be made at least three weeks in advance of the proposed
date. The permit shall specify the date on which the procession is
to be held, the route to be followed by the procession, the hour when
and place where participants may commence to assemble and form before
the procession is under way, the time when the procession may commence
to move along its route, and the time by which the end of the procession
shall have reached the end of the route of the procession and the
procession shall have been disbanded. It shall be unlawful for any
person to hold or to participate in any procession unless the permit
shall have been granted or under any conditions as to time or route
or otherwise than those stated in the permit.
D.ย
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, upon
conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and costs.
The police officers of the City are hereby given authority to
direct traffic on the highways of the City and at intersections thereof.
A.ย
The City Police Department is hereby authorized to use all mechanical
or electrical speed-timing devices for the determination of speed
of a motor vehicle as are approved or will be approved by the Department
of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including but
not limited to ESP and Vascar systems.
B.ย
This section authorizes the use of said devices upon all highways
within the City, be they City, county or state highways, and does
also hereby elect to exercise all powers granted to "local authorities"
under the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 75 Pa.C.S.A.
ยงย 101 et seq. (1977), as hereafter amended, supplemented,
modified or reenacted by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
[Added 12-10-2009 by Ord. No. 1824]
The City of Washington reserves the right to lease out any available
on- or off-street parking spaces, whether metered or unmetered, at
rates determined to be appropriate by the Washington City Council.
The City further reserves the right to enforce parking violations
24 hours a day in all City streets or lots, whether leased or owned.