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Township of West Pike Run, PA
Washington County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (2) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Pike Run 7-6-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-2. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The possession of an abandoned automobile or parts thereof other than in a fully enclosed building shall be prohibited except in a junkyard or salvage yard or in an impounding garage or lot authorized by the Board of Supervisors for storage of illegally situated vehicles.
"Abandoned automobile" shall, without limitation, be conclusively presumed to include any motor vehicle as to which one or more of the following conditions exist.
A. 
A vehicle for which a certificate of junk has been issued by the Secretary of Revenue, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or the official designated by any other state to issue such certificate.
B. 
The engine or engine parts of which have been removed for more than 15 days.
C. 
The tires of which have been deflated or wheels removed for more than seven days.
D. 
A vehicle bearing no official inspection sticker, or a sticker not currently valid, or not bearing a current license tag.
E. 
A vehicle left unattended for more than three days upon any public highway or street where:
(1) 
The owner or operator does not reside,
(2) 
The owner or operator is not engaged in any lawful business or visiting the owner or occupier of any property abutting the said highway or street, or
(3) 
Said vehicle is not capable of being moved under its own power.
Any abandoned automobile (vehicle), the possession of which is prohibited under this or any other ordinance of West Pike Run Township, may be removed or caused to be removed by the West Pike Run Township Police, pursuant to the following provisions of this chapter.
Any such abandoned automobile may be towed and stored in such storage areas or garages in West Pike Run Township as designated by the Chief of Police; the designation of same shall be kept currently posted in Police Headquarters.
The charge for towing such abandoned automobiles shall be $15. The charge for storage shall be $1.50 per day.
The Chief of Police, or his agent, within 24 hours after the abandoned automobile has been removed, shall notify the owner of record of such abandoned automobile by certified mail, return receipt requested, that the vehicle has been impounded; the place from which it was removed; the reason for its removal and impounding; and the place where the vehicle has been impounded.
Following the effective date of the chapter, it shall be the duty of any owner of an abandoned automobile, or the owner, lessee or occupant of the real property upon which there is an abandoned automobile, to remove or cause to be removed said abandoned automobile within a reasonable time, but no more than 15 days after receipt of notice from the Chief of Police or his agent to do so.
Each day of violation of § 368-7, supra, shall be deemed a separate offense and punishable as hereinafter provided.
A. 
Any person in violation of § 368-7, supra, shall, upon summary conviction before a District Magistrate, be sentenced to pay a fine not in excess of $300 or undergo imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or both. Such fines shall be payable to West Pike Run Township.
B. 
Towing and storage charges shall be recoverable in a civil action in the name of West Pike Run Township.
A. 
The Police Department shall keep a record of the following:
(1) 
The names and addresses of all owners of vehicles impounded;
(2) 
The names and addresses of all persons claiming such vehicles;
(3) 
The license numbers and such information as may identify the vehicle;
(4) 
The nature and circumstances of the impounding of the vehicle;
(5) 
The violation of the law or ordinance on account of which the vehicle was impounded; and
(6) 
The final disposition of the case.
B. 
If the registered owner fails to claim the vehicle within 15 days of the date of removal thereof, the Police Department shall request an investigation by the Secretary of Revenue of the Commonwealth pursuant to the provisions of the Vehicle Code.
Any notice required by this chapter to be given the alleged owner of an abandoned automobile shall be sufficient if sent to the last known name and address obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue; any notice required to be given the owner of land shall be sufficient if sent to the name and address obtained from the most recent tax duplicate prepared by the Washington County Board of Assessment and Revision of Taxes.