[Amended 3-17-2005 by Ord. No. 05-03]
Pursuant to the authority granted by § 4902(a) of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 4902(a), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vehicle or combination having a gross weight in excess of the maximum prescribed below for that bridge or road or part of road, as the case may be, unless an overweight vehicle permit has been issued pursuant to this Part 3:
Street or Bridge
Location
Maximum Gross Weight
(tons)
All Township streets within Jackson Township
10
Evergreen Mill Road Bridge
Above Little Connoquenessing Creek
10
Fanker Road Bridge (T-312)
Above Scholar's Run
10
Lutz Road
Above Glade Run
10
Textor Hill Road Bridge
Above Breakneck Creek
20
A. 
Prohibition. No vehicle may exceed the vehicle weight limits established by § 15-301 of this Part 3 without the issuance of an overweight vehicle permit pursuant to the requirements of this § 15-302.
B. 
Application for overweight vehicle permit. Any person wishing to operate any vehicle or combination having a gross weight in excess of the maximum weights prescribed by § 15-301 shall file an application for overweight vehicle permit with the Township in a form and including such additional information or materials as may be required by the Township Roadmaster. At a minimum, the application shall clearly specify the common destination within Jackson Township to which the overweight vehicle or vehicles are intended to travel.
[Amended 11-21-2013 by Ord. No. 13-05]
C. 
Types of overweight vehicle permits. Overweight vehicle permits shall be classified as follows:
(1) 
A Type 1 permit authorizes use of a particular posted highway or portion thereof by an over-posted-weight vehicle. It is valid only when carried in the over-posted vehicle.
(2) 
A Type 2 permit authorizes use of a particular posted highway or portion thereof by any number of over-posted-weight vehicles being driven to or from a common destination. Copies of a Type 2 permit may be used.
(a) 
A Type 2 permit will be issued only if the Township Roadmaster determines that it is not feasible to issue a Type 1 permit for each vehicle, for example, most over-posted-weight vehicles hauling to and from the place of business of the permittee belonging to or are hauling under contract with customers or suppliers of the permittee.
(3) 
Type 1 and Type 2 permits shall be valid only for travel of overweight vehicles over approved roads for the purpose of reaching an approved common destination.
[Added 11-21-2013 by Ord. No. 13-05]
D. 
Display of permit. Every Type 1 permit shall be carried in the vehicle and shall be open to inspection by the Township Roadmaster, any Township police officer or other authorized agent of the Township, Pennsylvania State Police officer, Department of Transportation ("PennDOT") enforcement official, and any person involved in an accident involving a permitted vehicle. The preceding individuals may require documentation of destination such as a bill of lading. A Type 1 permit is valid only when carried in the over-posted-weight vehicle.
[Amended 11-21-2013 by Ord. No. 13-05]
E. 
Issuing authority. The Township Roadmaster, or other representative of the Township as may be designated by the Board of Supervisors from time to time, shall be responsible for issuing overweight vehicle permits pursuant to § 15-302.
F. 
Revocation.
(1) 
An overweight vehicle permit may be revoked for cause and shall be subject to summary confiscation or invalidation. Sufficient cause includes, but is not limited to, failure to obey the restrictions and conditions of the permit; failure to post the required financial security set forth in § 15-303; failure to comply with the terms of the road use and maintenance agreement pursuant to § 15-304; fraud in the procurement of a permit; operating a vehicle without a valid driver's license; or for any other violation of the Township's ordinances, rules and regulations.
(2) 
Any Township police officer, Pennsylvania State Police officer, or PennDOT enforcement official is authorized to revoke and confiscate or invalidate an overweight vehicle permit. Any person aggrieved pursuant to this section may appeal the revocation of the permit to the Township Board of Supervisors, provided that a written application for an appeal is filed within 10 days after receipt of revocation.
(3) 
At said hearing, the Township police officer, Pennsylvania State Police officer, or PennDOT enforcement official who revoked the permit and the aggrieved person shall present any evidence bearing on the propriety of the revocation. At the conclusion of the hearing and based upon the evidence presented to it, the Township shall:
(a) 
Affirm the revocation until the offending reason for the revocation of the permit has been brought into compliance.
(b) 
Reverse, cancel or suspend the revocation order upon a finding that the person and/or vehicle is in compliance with its permit and/or that there is no sufficient cause otherwise.
G. 
Authorized travel periods. A vehicle may be driven, hauled or towed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if the vehicle is operated at prevailing speeds. Movement is not authorized during any of the following:
(1) 
A holiday period specified in the PennDOT regulations or in the permit.
(2) 
Inclement weather, as defined in PennDOT regulations.
(3) 
During times in which the Township has made a determination that, due to the health, safety and welfare of the Township, traffic may not proceed on a particular highway.
H. 
Application fees. All applicants for an overweight vehicle permit shall pay an application fee as the same shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
Required security. As a prerequisite to the issuance of a Type 1 permit or Type 2 permit, the applicant shall provide financial security in an amount and type required by this Part 3, the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq., and PennDOT regulations.
B. 
Amount of security. The permittee shall be required to provide financial security in favor of the Township to assure compliance with the road use and maintenance agreement required by § 15-304 of this Part 3.
(1) 
Amount of security. The amount of financial security for a Type 1 permit or Type 2 permit shall be as follows:
(a) 
For unpaved highways to be maintained at a level consistent with the type of highway: $6,000 per linear mile.
(b) 
For paved highways to be maintained at a level consistent with the type of highway: $12,500 per linear mile.
(c) 
For any highway which the Township allows to be maintained below a level consistent with the type of highway: $50,000 per linear mile.
C. 
Additional security. When the amount of damage in excess of normal maintenance to a posted highway is estimated by the Township to constitute 75% or more of the amount of the financial security, the Township may require the highway to be maintained or reconstructed within 30 days, unless the permittee agrees to provide such additional financial security as the Township shall determine.
D. 
Form of financial security. Financial security may be in the form of a performance bond with surety by a company authorized to do business in the commonwealth; or at the option of the permittee, in the form of a certified or cashier's check, bank account, or irrevocable letter of credit in favor of the Township; or in some other form of security acceptable to the Township Solicitor.
(1) 
Surety bond. The following requirements shall apply to any surety bond provided for an overweight vehicle permit:
(a) 
The bond shall be obtained from a surety incorporated in the United States and authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(b) 
The surety shall have a current A.M. Best's rating of no less than "A" and an underwriting capacity as stated in Best's equal to or greater than the amount of the bond written by that surety or, in the alternative, be listed on the current United States Department of the Treasury's Annual List of "Companies Holding Certificates of Authority as Acceptable Sureties on Federal Bonds and as Acceptable Reinsuring Companies," as published in the Federal Register, and have an underwriting capacity in said list equal to or greater than the amount of the bond written by that surety.
(2) 
Letter of credit. The following requirements shall apply to any letter of credit provided for an overweight vehicle permit:
(a) 
The letter of credit shall be issued by a federal- or commonwealth-chartered lending institution having an office located within 30 miles of the boundaries of Jackson Township at which draft on site can be presented during regular business hours.
(b) 
The letter of credit shall have an expiration date of no earlier than 90 days after the expiration of the term of the road use and maintenance agreement required by § 15-304 of this Part 3. The Township, at its discretion, may accept a letter of credit having an earlier expiration date, provided the letter of credit states that it will automatically be renewed for a period of at least one year from any present or future expiration date, unless the Township receives notice in writing from the issuer at least 60 days prior to the expiration date that the issuer elects to not further extend the letter of credit, and that if such notice is given, the Township may draw on the letter of credit up to the amount of its unused balance on or before the relevant expiration date.
(c) 
Multiple draws on the letter of credit shall be permitted.
(d) 
Draws shall be permitted at sight at the issuer's office in a location as set forth in Subsection D(2)(a) above or by overnight mail.
(3) 
Self-bonding. The Township may authorize self-bonding if the Township Solicitor determines, on the basis of the financial ability of the permittee, that it is unlikely that the Township will be unable to collect a judgment rendered against the permittee for failure to comply with the road use and maintenance agreement.
(a) 
The Township may require corporate officers and stockholders and their spouses to execute a self-bond, if the financial ability of a corporation is insufficient in itself to justify self-bonding.
(b) 
The Township may require the permittee to execute liens on real or personal property, or both, as a condition for authorizing self-bonding.
(c) 
In order to be considered for self-bonding by the Township, a permittee shall file with PennDOT a contractor's financial statement, Department Form CS4300, Part 1. The financial statement shall be updated annually and within 30 days of any Township request for an update.
E. 
Term of financial security. Unless otherwise provided by this Part 3 or agreed to by the Township, the financial security required under this Part 3 shall be for a minimum term set forth in the road use and maintenance agreement required by § 15-304.
A. 
Execution of agreement. The issuance of a Type 1 permit or a Type 2 permit shall be conditioned upon the permittee's execution of a road use and maintenance agreement in a form approved by resolution of the Board of Supervisors and acceptable to the Township Solicitor.
B. 
Permittee's obligation. Pursuant to the road use and maintenance agreement, the permittee must pay for all excessive road maintenance repair costs, which include, but are not limited to, costs incurred for extensive patching and base repair, reshaping shoulders that have heaved because of heavy load hauling, and repairing crushed pipes.
C. 
Multiple permittees. If more than one permittee is using the same posted highway, the costs of maintenance shall be prorated based on trips or tonnage hauled. Multiple permittees shall conform to the following:
(1) 
Agreement to share excess maintenance responsibility. If two or more persons wish to obtain a Type 1 permit or a Type 2 permit to operate over-posted-weight vehicles on the same posted highway or portion thereof, they may agree among themselves as to their relative responsibility for the cost of maintenance, and the Township will enter into agreements and accept financial security on the basis of the agreed shares.
(2) 
Determination by Township. If multiple applicants for a Type 1 permit or a Type 2 permit cannot agree on their relative responsibility, the Township will determine their relative shares and will enter into agreements with and accept financial security from any such persons.
(3) 
Subsequent permit applicants. Subsection C(1) and (2) shall apply even if one or more persons have already been issued a Type 1 permit or a Type 2 permit, entered into road use and maintenance agreements, or posted financial security when another person files an application for a Type 1 permit or a Type 2 permit to operate over-posted-weight vehicles on the same posted highway.
A. 
Initial inspection. To determine a Type 1 permit or a Type 2 permit holder's responsibilities under the road use and maintenance agreement and this Part 3, the Township Roadmaster and the permittee shall conduct an on-site inspection of the posted highway prior to the operation of any overweight vehicle thereon. During the inspection, the Township Roadmaster and the permittee shall complete a detailed report documenting the condition of the road and any areas of concern. The permittee and the Roadmaster shall drive the route together and shall videotape the permitted route so that the condition of the route is memorialized. The permittee's responsibilities and bonding requirements will then be determined at the conclusion of the inspection.
B. 
Reinspection. The posted highway shall be reinspected by the Township:
(1) 
Upon issuance of any new permit.
(2) 
From time to time as the Township determines repairs may be required.
(3) 
Within 30 days of the expiration of the term of the road use and maintenance agreement, in order to determine the amount of damage for which the permittee or permittees are responsible.
C. 
Notification of inspections and reinspections. All Type 1 permit and Type 2 permit holders will be notified of all inspections and reinspections on the highway or portion thereof and may participate in the inspections and reinspections.
D. 
Permittee's repair obligations. When damage occurs to a posted highway that is financially secured, the operation of overweight vehicles shall be halted upon written stop-work order under the Township Roadmaster. The operation of overweight vehicles pursuant to a permit shall then not resume until the damages are repaired by the Township and the Township is reimbursed by the permittee for the cost of such repairs. If the permittee does not reimburse the Township for any such costs within 30 days of invoicing, the financial security shall be used to cover the repair costs to the roadway. The financial security then must be replaced or replenished prior to resuming operation of overweight vehicles.
E. 
Inspection fees and costs. Permittees shall reimburse the Township for inspection fees and costs in accordance with the schedule adopted from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
Exempt vehicles. The following vehicles shall be exempt from the requirements of this Part 3 as local traffic, except as provided otherwise in Subsection C of this section:
(1) 
Emergency vehicles.
(2) 
School buses.
(3) 
Vehicles and combinations of governmental agencies and utilities or their contractors engaged in construction or maintenance on a posted highway or in a location which can be reached only via a posted highway.
(4) 
Vehicles and combinations going to or coming from a residence, commercial establishment, or farm located on a posted highway or which can be reached only via a posted highway.
(5) 
Travel to the vehicle owner's or operator's place of residence for purposes unrelated to the delivery of goods or materials to the residence shall not be considered exempt local traffic.
B. 
General rule. An over-posted-weight exempt vehicle may exceed posted weight limits unless the Township Roadmaster determines that an over-posted-weight exempt vehicle being driven to or from a particular destination or destinations is likely to damage the highway.
C. 
Vehicles determined likely to damage highway. If the Township Roadmaster determines that one or more over-posted-weight exempt vehicles are causing damage to the highway, or are likely to damage the highway, the Township will so notify the registrants of the over-posted-weight exempt vehicles or owners of the destination or destinations, or both, and will also notify the state and Township police. After two business days following delivery of the notice, or after five days following mailing of the notice, such over-posted-weight exempt vehicles shall not exceed the posted weight limits unless the operator obtains a Type 1 permit or Type 2 permit in accordance with the provisions of this Part 3.
D. 
Proof of local traffic status. The following types of documents will constitute evidence that a vehicle is local traffic:
(1) 
A bill of lading, shipping order or similar document which shows a destination on the posted history.
(2) 
Certification by the permittee or an official of a permittee company on the company letterhead describing the local traffic nature of the activity in which the vehicle is engaged.
A. 
Enforcement procedures. If an overweight vehicle is observed on Township roads, any Township police officer, Pennsylvania State Police officer, or PennDOT enforcement official is authorized to stop the vehicle in order to determine if the vehicle is permitted to operate in the subject roadway via a Type 1 permit or Type 2 permit. If the vehicle conforms to one of the above categories, the vehicle shall be allowed to continue. If the vehicle does not fall into one of the above categories, it shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Subsection B. If the vehicle is in violation of any condition or restriction of any Type 1 permit or Type 2 permit, it shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Subsection B and revocation pursuant to § 15-302F.
B. 
Operation without a permit. Any person operating a vehicle or combination upon a highway or bridge without a Type 1 permit or Type 2 permit in violation of § 15-301 is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $150, plus $150 for each 500 pounds, or part thereof, in excess of 3,000 pounds over the maximum allowable weight, plus costs.
C. 
Penalty for violation of permit. Any person whose vehicle, combination or load is in violation of any condition or restriction of any Type 1 permit or Type 2 permit issued pursuant to this Part 3 is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $500 for each violation. Each day that a violation continues, and each vehicle or vehicle run, shall constitute a separate offense. Said fines are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any penalties established by Subsection B.