[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Germany as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-13-2020 by Ord. No. 60]
The article shall be known and may be cited as the "Alternative Dispute Resolution Ordinance of Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania."
The purpose of this article is to provide for a mechanism by means of issuance of tickets rather than citation 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 twofold perspective in that it permits Germany 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 right to dispute the ticket and receive the full benefit of procedural and substantive due process of law.
A. 
The provision of any article so enumerated shall be enforced by the code enforcement officers or any public officer sworn to uphold and enforce the law of Germany Township.
B. 
Germany Township may from time to time change, increase, or decrease those ordinances to be covered under this alternative dispute resolution article by resolution passed at the January regular monthly meeting. However, at the time of adopting this article, the following ordinance(s) are hereby ordained to be under the jurisdiction of this process:
(1) 
Ordinance No. 57, Nuisances.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 113, Nuisances and Property Maintenance.
C. 
Any violation of the provisions of any article as enumerated in this article may be cause for a citation, a violation ticket, and/or a notice of violation to be issued to the violator.
D. 
A notice of violation shall be served upon a violator in the following manner:
(1) 
By handing the ticket of violation to the violator.
(2) 
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.
(3) 
By leaving or affixing the notice or violation to the property where the violation exists.
(4) 
By handing it at any office or usual place of business to the violator, to his/her agent or to the person for the time being in charge thereof.
(5) 
By mailing the violation ticket to the violator's address of record by first-class mail, return receipt requested.
E. 
A violation ticket shall be served upon a violator in the following manner:
(1) 
By handing the violation ticket to the violator.
(2) 
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.
(3) 
By leaving or affixing the notice of violation to the property where the violation exists.
F. 
The penalty imposed by the issuance of a ticket under the provisions of this article shall be as follows:
(1) 
First offense: $25.
(2) 
Second offense: $50.
(3) 
Third offense: $100.
(4) 
Fourth offense: $200.
(5) 
All other offenses: $300.
G. 
Fines must be paid at the Germany Township Office located at 136 Ulricktown Road, Littlestown, PA 17340 within 10 days of the date of the ticket.
H. 
Failure to pay the fine for a ticket within the required time frame may result in the issuance of a citation and filing with the Magisterial District Court with additional fines and costs.
The provisions of this article are severable; and if any of its sections, clauses, or sentences shall be held illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such provision shall not affect or impair any remaining sections, clauses or sentences of the same.
This article shall become effective upon adoption.