The chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Alternative
Dispute Resolution Ordinance of the City of Shamokin, Northumberland
County, Pennsylvania, of 2012."
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for a mechanism by
means of issuance of tickets, rather than citation, to permit a citizen
who believes they 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 twofold perspective in that it
permits the City 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.
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 the
ticket is not paid within 10 days, such failure to pay shall result
in the issuance of a criminal citation for the offenses enumerated
on the ticket.
In addition to imposing a fine and costs or imprisonments enumerated
under the section allegedly violated, the Magisterial District Judge
may order the violator, upon conviction, to make restitution to any
aggrieved person.
The provisions of this chapter are severable, and if any section,
clause, sentence, part or provision thereof shall be held illegal,
invalid or unconstitutional by any court of contempt jurisdiction,
such decision of the court shall not affect, impair or invalidate
any of the remaining sections, clauses, sentences, parts or provisions
of this chapter. It is hereby declared to be the intent of Shamokin
City Council that this chapter would have been adopted if such illegal,
invalid or unconstitutional section, clause, sentence, part of provision
had not been included herein.
The provisions of any prior ordinance which are inconsistent
with the provisions of this chapter are hereby repealed to the extent
of such inconsistency.
This chapter shall be effective immediately upon adoption.