[Adopted as Article 741 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances]
[Amended 3-7-2006 by Ord. No. 14365; 6-20-2012 by Ord. No. 15003]
The following words, terms and phrases when used in this article shall be defined as follows, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
NOTICE OF VIOLATION
A written document issued to a person in violation of a City ordinance which specifies the violation and contains a directive to take corrective action within a specified time frame or face further legal action.
PERSON
Every natural person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or institution.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Any land and the improvements thereon owned by any person and includes front, side and rear yards; vacant lots, buildings and other structural improvement; walkways and alleyways; and parking areas, designed or used either wholly or in part for private residential, industrial or commercial purposes, whether inhabited or temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant, including any yard, grounds, walk, driveway, porch, steps, vestibule or mailbox belonging or appurtenant to such dwelling, house, building or other structure.
PUBLIC OFFICER
Any police officer, authorized inspector, or public official sworn to enforce the City ordinances.
SIDEWALK AREA
The public right-of-way between the property line and the curbline or the established edge of the roadway.
VIOLATION TICKET
Issued by a police officer or public officer to a person who violates a provision of this article.
[Amended 5-29-1917 by Ord. No. 509]
No person shall obstruct any street crossing within the City limits by locomotives or cars standing, moving or shifting upon any railroad track for a longer period than five minutes. No person shall keep any gates erected at grade crossings closed for a longer period at any one time than five minutes. Before again closing, full opportunity shall be given to all persons and vehicles to cross the railroad tracks that may be waiting to do so.
[Amended 8-15-1984 by Ord. No. 12616; 3-7-2006 by Ord. No. 14365; 6-20-2012 by Ord. No. 15003]
A. 
All persons owning, controlling or occupying any private property, premises, lot or tract of land adjoining or fronting upon any of the streets of the City shall remove snow and ice from the sidewalk area or footway of such premises within 10 hours after it shall have ceased snowing, sleeting or raining as reported by the National Weather Service at the ABE Airport. It shall be considered compliance with this section if a cleared portion three feet in width shall have been made upon such sidewalk or footpath.
B. 
No person shall remove snow or ice from private property and put, place, deposit or cause to be put, placed or deposited snow or ice so removed upon the right-of-way of any street.
C. 
No person shall remove or cause to be removed snow or ice from any sidewalk or footway and put, place, deposit or cause to be put, placed or deposited snow or ice so removed upon that portion of the street normally used for the travel of vehicles.
D. 
This section shall not be in force and effect in areas where curbside parking is prohibited, provided it is not a vehicle travel lane or there is no available private property upon which to put, place or deposit snow or ice so removed.
[Amended 2-6-1980 by Ord. No. 12410; 5-21-1998 by Ord. No. 13675]
A. 
No person shall drink or consume an alcoholic beverage or possess, with the intent to drink or consume, an open container containing an alcoholic beverage in any public place except at a party, function or activity for which a special activity or sidewalk cafe permit has been obtained from the City of Allentown, and where in the case of the special activity permit, such permit authorizes the consumption of alcoholic beverages at said party, function or activity. Possession of an open container containing an alcoholic beverage by any person shall create a rebuttable presumption that such person did intend to consume the contents thereof in violation of this section.
B. 
Definitions, for the purpose of this section, are as follows:
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE
Any liquid intended for human consumption containing more than 1/2 of 1% (0.05%) of alcohol by volume.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any place to which the public has access and includes any public street or public sidewalk, as well as the front of and the area immediately adjacent to any parking lot, store, restaurant, tavern or other place of business, but shall not include those premises duly licensed for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises or within their own private property.
C. 
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the consumption of an alcoholic beverage in any duly licensed establishment whose certificate of occupancy extends upon a sidewalk.
D. 
Any person guilty of a violation of this section shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in § 545-10.
[Amended 3-7-2006 by Ord. No. 14365; 6-20-2012 by Ord. No. 15003]
A. 
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by police officers or any other public officer.
B. 
Any violation of the provisions of this article may be cause for a citation, a violation ticket and/or a notice of violation to be issued to the violator.
C. 
A notice of violation or violation 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 notice or violation 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 notice to the violator's address of record.
D. 
Each day a violation continues or is permitted to continue may constitute a separate offense for which a separate fine may be imposed.
E. 
A public officer is authorized and empowered to cause a violation to be corrected.
F. 
If the City has affected the correction of the violation, the cost thereof may be charged to the owner of the property, tenant or offending party. The cost shall be determined by the Director of Public Works or designee in order that the City shall be compensated for both direct and indirect costs and expenses incurred.
[Amended 3-7-2006 by Ord. No. 14365]
The City may publish and post any regulations governing the procedures and enforcement of any provisions of this article.
[Amended 3-7-2006 by Ord. No. 14365]
A. 
A person in receipt of a violation ticket may appeal to the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste by filing a request within 10 days of receipt of the violation ticket.
B. 
A Hearing Officer, designated by the Manager of the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste and in consultation with the Bureau of Engineering, may uphold the appeal, deny the appeal or may modify the violation ticket and/or any associated costs, fines or penalty amounts.
[Amended 3-7-2006 by Ord. No. 14365]
If any provision, paragraph, word, section or subsection of this article is invalidated by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions, paragraphs, words, sections, or subsection shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.
[Amended 2-21-1973 by Ord. No. 11995; 3-6-1991 by Ord. No. 13034; 4-8-2004 by Ord. No. 14169; 3-7-2006 by Ord. No. 14365; 6-20-2012 by Ord. No. 15003]
A. 
Violation ticket fines.
(1) 
Violation tickets may be issued in the amounts of $25 or $100.
(2) 
Any person who receives a violation ticket for any violation of this article may, within 10 days, admit the violation, waive a hearing and pay the fine in full satisfaction of $25 or $100, as indicated on the violation ticket.
B. 
Violation ticket penalties.
(1) 
If the person in receipt of a $25 violation ticket does not pay the fine or request a hearing within 10 days, the person will be subject to a $10 penalty for days 11 through 20.
(2) 
If the person in receipt of a $100 violation ticket does not pay the fine or request a hearing within 10 days, the person will be subject to a $25 penalty for days 11 through 20.
(3) 
Failure of the person to make payment within 20 days shall make the person subject to a citation.
C. 
Citation fines. Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be fined not more than $1,000.
[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 15767; 4-3-2024 by Ord. No. 16002]