[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Pittston 11-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-5. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parking lots — See Ch. 344.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 424.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 455.
The City Council of the City of Pittston, recognizing the special needs of handicapped persons in the City of Pittston, hereby establishes a reserved parking program, which will facilitate access to and from the handicapped person's place of residence.
A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
HANDICAPPED PERSON
An individual possessing a handicapped or severely disabled veteran registration plate.
ISSUING AUTHORITY
The Traffic Committee of the City of Pittston.
RESERVED PARKING SIGN
A sign issued by the City of Pittston reserving parking for one vehicle space and erected at a designated and agreed-upon area for access for handicapped persons.
B. 
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter.
A. 
The City of Pittston will promulgate and have available applications for reserved parking signs. Once the application has been completed, it will be submitted for review to the Traffic Committee of the City of Pittston.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by Ord. No. 2014-15]
B. 
Application fee. Upon submission of an application, the applicant shall pay a one-time nonrefundable fee to the City of Pittston, in an amount as set by resolution of the City Council.
[Amended 7-21-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3; 1-21-2015 by Ord. No. 2014-15]
C. 
All approved applicants shall be required to file a renewal application by February 1 of each year in which the reserved space is held. Renewal forms will be sent to the applicant each year in January. A nonrefundable renewal fee, in an amount as set by resolution of the City Council, must accompany the application. A physician's signature is not required on the renewal application by an applicant previously adjudged permanently disabled.
[Amended 1-21-2015 by Ord. No. 2014-15]
D. 
Applicants must possess a handicapped or severely disabled veteran registration plate or a handicapped placard in order to obtain an application.
[Amended 7-21-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3]
E. 
Applications are to be completed entirely. Applications not completed entirely will be denied and considered ineligible to have a handicapped parking sign installed.
[Amended 7-21-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3]
F. 
Each applicant shall submit with the completed application a written statement from his or her physician describing the disability at the time of the application, including but not limited to the anticipated duration of the disability.
G. 
Approval or denial of applications will be made within 60 days by the Traffic Committee of the City of Pittston ("issuing authority").
H. 
Upon approval of an application and payment of requisite fees, the City of Pittston will erect one reserved parking sign with the applicant's vehicle registration number for use by the applicant.
[Amended 7-21-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3]
I. 
The Traffic Committee of the City of Pittston shall maintain a log of all applications for a reserved parking sign.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person or owner of realty to erect a reserved parking sign or handicapped parking sign upon the streets of the City of Pittston without first making application to the Traffic Committee of the City of Pittston. Any person who erects or utilizes a reserved parking sign or a handicapped parking sign who has not followed the requirements of this chapter is subject to penalties as set forth herein.
B. 
Any stipulations made at the time of application regarding the eligibility of an applicant may be updated periodically at the request of the issuing authority.
C. 
Reserved parking signs shall not supersede existing parking regulations, including but not limited to current and/or future street sweeping bans or snow removal regulations.
D. 
Reserved parking signs will remain the property of the City of Pittston.
E. 
The issuing authority shall be notified immediately if an eligible person no longer qualifies for a sign under this chapter (for example, if an eligible person enjoys an improved health condition or moves from the premises wherein the sign is located). Failure to notify the issuing authority constitutes a violation of this chapter.
F. 
The issuing authority will take the following factors into consideration when issuing reserved parking signs:
(1) 
Overall availability of parking in the area where a sign is requested;
(2) 
The living arrangements of an individual applicant (for example, a disabled person living alone and responsible for his or her own transportation);
(3) 
Existing parking problems in the area where a sign is requested;
(4) 
Existing private driveway, off-street parking and/or garage space available to the residence/applicant and its overall accessibility.
G. 
The Traffic Committee of the City of Pittston reserves the right to remove any reserved parking signs or handicapped parking signs for cause shown.
H. 
No reserved parking sign will be placed in front of the home of a person other than the applicant, unless the property owner signs a notarized statement that they have no objection to the placement of the sign.
I. 
The reserved parking area will be defined by the placement of two reserved parking signs.
[Added 12-21-2015 by Res. No. 11812]
In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and to assure access for disabled persons, the Pittston City Streets and Sanitation Department, as directed by the City Administrator, shall install and maintain appropriate parking spaces marked for use exclusively by disabled persons in City parks and recreation areas. The Pittston City Police Department shall enforce the handicapped parking regulations within the City parks and recreation areas in the same manner and to the same penalties as proscribed for violation of the handicapped parking in § 340-5 of the Pittston City Code.
A. 
Any person who parks in a reserved parking space who is not authorized to do so shall be subject to immediate citation, and the vehicle will be subject to immediate removal.
B. 
No person shall erect or maintain a reserved or handicapped parking sign upon the streets of the City of Pittston without authority under this chapter from the Traffic Committee of the City of Pittston.
C. 
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding before a Magisterial District Judge, be sentenced and/or ordered to pay a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $300, plus costs, and/or to be imprisoned in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for a period not exceeding 90 days. Each and every day upon which any person violates or continues to violate the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 7-21-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3]