Lack of maintenance of properties, littering, and the failure
to comply with rental property registration are costly problems that
contribute to the deterioration of property values and general disorder
in the community. These problems degrade the physical appearance of
the Township, which reduces business and tax revenue inhibiting economic
development. The quality of life and community pride of the citizens
of Patterson Township are negatively impacted by the occurrence and
existence of these activities. Recognizing these are community problems,
the purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety, and
general welfare of the Township by helping to create a clean environment
for the citizens of Patterson Township. The purpose of this chapter
is to provide for a mechanism by means of issuance of tickets, in
addition to the penalties already provided for, to permit a citizen
who believes he may have been in violation to pay the ticket rather
than cause the issuance of a citation and a costly and protracted
legal hearing before a judge and unnecessary appeals. The resolution
in this manner is beneficial from a two-fold perspective in that it
permits the Township to maintain and enforce its laws and permits
a citizen, so accused, to resolve the dispute in a manner that does
not unduly burden the resident by requiring the issuance of a citation
and a court hearing. It also does not deprive the citizen of the right
to dispute the ticket and receive the full benefit of procedural and
substantive due process of law.
Violation of the following sections of the Code of the Township
of Patterson, Pennsylvania shall constitute a quality-of-life violation.
B. Chapter
152, Property Maintenance.
(1) Section 108.1.1, Unsafe structures.
(2) Section 302.1, Sanitation.
(3) Section 302.3, Sidewalks and driveways.
(5) Section 302.7, Accessory structures.
(6) Section 302.8, Motor vehicles.
(7) Section 305.4, Stairs and walking surfaces.
(8) Section 307.1, Accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
(9) Section 307.2.2, Refrigerators.
C. Chapter
155, Rental Property.
(1) Section
155-4, Registration requirements and occupancy licenses and inspections.
Upon finding a quality-of-life violation pursuant to §
175-2, any police officer of the Township of Patterson, its Zoning Officer, or its Code Enforcement Officer may issue a quality-of-life violation ticket to the owner and/or occupant of the property at issue or to the individual(s) known to have violated this chapter.
A ticket shall be served upon a violator by handing it to the
violator, by handing it at the residence of the person to be served
to an adult member of the household or other person in charge of the
residence, by leaving or affixing the ticket to the property where
the violation exists, by handing it at any office or usual place of
business of the violator to his/her agent or to the person for the
time being in charge thereof, or by mailing the ticket to the violator's
address of record.
Each day a violation continues or is permitted to continue may
constitute a separate offense for which a separate fine may be imposed.
A person in receipt of a violation ticket shall have 10 days
within which time to pay the amount of the ticket. In the event that
the ticket is not paid within 10 days, such failure to pay shall result
in the issuance of a criminal citation for the offense as enumerated
on the ticket. Any person, firm, or corporation who shall fail, neglect,
or refuse to comply with any of the terms of the provisions of this
chapter, or of any regulation requirement pursuant hereto, and authorized
hereby, shall, upon conviction, be ordered to pay a fine of not less
than $100 and not more than $1,000 on each offense.
At the discretion of the Township of Patterson, all tickets
for which payment is not received within 45 days of issuance of a
ticket, and monies paid by the Township of Patterson for abatement
of a violation not paid within 45 days of billing, may be turned over
to the Borough to a collection agency for receipt.
At the discretion of the Township of Patterson, liens may be
placed upon a property against which tickets were issued for which
payment is not received within 45 days of issuance of a ticket, and
for monies paid by the Township of Patterson for abatement of a violation
and not paid within 45 days of billing.
The penalty lien and collection provisions of this chapter shall
be independent, non-mutually-exclusive, separate remedies, all of
which shall be available to the Township of Patterson as may be deemed
appropriate for carrying out the purposes of this chapter. The remedies
and procedures provided in this chapter for violation hereof are not
intended to supplant or replace to any degree the remedies and procedures
available to the Township in the case of the violation of any other
Township of Patterson code or codified ordinance, whether or not such
code or ordinance is referenced in this chapter and whether or not
an ongoing violation of such other code or ordinance is cited as the
underlying ground for a finding of a violation of this chapter.