[Adopted 11-22-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-25]
A. 
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
HANDICAPPED PARKING SIGN
A sign issued by the City of Hazleton reserving parking for one vehicle space and erected at a designated and agreed upon area for access for a handicapped person.
HANDICAPPED PERSON
An individual possessing a handicapped or severely disabled veteran registration plate or placard.
ISSUING AUTHORITY
Hazleton Police Department.
OWNER
Actual owner, agent or custodian of the property wherein a sign will be erected.
B. 
In this article, the singular shall include the plural; the plural shall include the singular; and the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter.
A. 
Any resident of the City of Hazleton may make application to the City of Hazleton for a handicapped parking space only after acquiring a handicapped license plate or placard or a disabled veteran license plate.
B. 
Applications are to be completed in their entirety. An incomplete application form will be denied by the City of Hazleton.
C. 
All applications shall be delivered to City of Hazleton, City Hall, 40 North Church Street, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, 18201.
D. 
New applications shall be reviewed and approved by the Hazleton Code Enforcement Office.
[Amended 9-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-14; 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5]
E. 
Renewal applications shall be reviewed and approved by the Hazleton Code Enforcement Office.
[Amended 9-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-14; 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5]
F. 
Each applicant, whether for a new permit or a renewal, shall complete an application and provide the City of Hazleton with all the information requested.
G. 
Temporary applications shall be reviewed and approved by the Hazleton Code Enforcement Office, who will make the decision in granting this temporary handicapped space for a period not to exceed three months in length. If the space is needed for a longer period of time, a renewal application must be filled out and returned to the City of Hazleton no later than two weeks before the expiration date of the handicapped space or it will be denied. Renewal applications for temporary handicapped parking spaces shall be reviewed and approved by the Hazleton Code Enforcement Office.
[Amended 9-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-14; 4-26-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5]
H. 
The City of Hazleton will promulgate and have available said applications for handicapped parking signs.
I. 
Upon approval of a new or temporary application, the applicant shall pay a fee to the City of Hazleton in such amount as provided in the fee scheduled adopted by resolution of the City Council.
[Amended 4-4-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-6; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
J. 
All approved applications shall be subject to annual review.
K. 
Each applicant shall submit with the completed application a written statement from his or her treating physician describing disability at the time of application, including but not limited to the anticipated duration of disability.
L. 
Approval or denial of applications will be made within 30 days by the Hazleton Code Enforcement Office.
[Amended 9-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-14]
A. 
Each permit for a handicapped parking space shall be renewed on an annual basis, except for temporary handicapped spaces, as in § 325-2G above.
B. 
Applications for renewal, except for temporary space renewal, shall be submitted to the City of Hazleton, City Hall, 40 North Church Street, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, 18201, between January 1 and January 31 of each calendar year, with the renewal fee in such amount as provided in the fee schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
C. 
In making the final determination regarding the renewal of a previously permitted handicapped space, the City of Hazleton shall apply the criteria contained in this article.
D. 
Once a permit is not renewed for any reason, any application by the same applicant shall be considered a new application and shall be governed by the provisions of this article.
[Amended 4-4-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-6; 2-10-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-1; 3-11-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-8; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
The initial application and installation fee for permanent and temporary handicapped parking spaces, both regular and limited access signs, is as provided in the fee schedule adopted by resolution of the City Council. Such fee also applies to any person permitted a handicapped parking space who fails to file a renewal application within the time frame allowed by this article.
B. 
The application and installation fee for renewal applications for handicapped parking spaces is as provided in the fee schedule.
C. 
The fee to replace a handicapped parking sign with a limited access handicapped parking sign is as provided in the fee schedule. The fee shall differ where there is an existing pole, and the City must only change the sign, versus if a pole must also be installed along with the replacement sign.
D. 
The fee to replace a limited access handicapped parking sign due to a change in a state-issued placard with new placard number is as provided in the fee schedule.
E. 
All fees for permanent and temporary handicapped parking spaces and renewal of permanent and temporary handicapped parking spaces are nonrefundable.
F. 
The monthly fee to maintain a limited access sign is as provided in the fee schedule.
A. 
No more than two handicapped parking spaces shall be located on any block where parking is permitted on both sides of the street.
B. 
No more than one handicapped parking space shall be located on any block where parking is permitted on only one side of the street.
C. 
All handicapped parking spaces permitted prior to the effective date of this article shall be allowed to remain as located but must be renewed annually between January 1 and January 31 of each calendar year thereafter.
D. 
In the event that previously permitted spaces exceed the maximum allowed per block, the City of Hazleton shall refrain from granting any additional spaces in that block until the number of handicapped spaces falls below the maximum allowed.
[Amended 9-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-14]
The Hazleton Code Enforcement Office shall maintain a log of all existing handicapped parking spaces at the time of the effective date hereof. Further, the Hazleton Code Enforcement Office will maintain a log of all applications for handicapped parking spaces for a maximum of 30 days.
A. 
A person owning a vehicle parked in a handicapped parking designated area without a handicapped plate or placard properly displayed and qualifying under this article will be subject to citation.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person or owner of realty to erect a handicapped parking sign upon the streets of the City of Hazleton without first making application for a handicapped parking sign through the City of Hazleton. Any violations hereunder will constitute a summary criminal offense under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and each day of violation hereunder will be considered a separate offense.
C. 
The fine and penalty for a violation of the regulations here and before designated shall be as provided in Chapter 1, Article II, Violations and Penalties.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
[Amended 4-4-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-6]
Disabled veterans of any branch of the armed forces are exempt from paying any and all application and installation fees, renewal fees or penalties as set forth in this article, upon showing proof of same.
[Amended 2-10-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-1]
A. 
Any stipulations made at the time of application regarding the eligibility of an applicant may be updated periodically at the request of the issuing authority.
B. 
Handicapped parking spaces shall not supersede existing parking regulations, including but not limited to street sweeping, snow ban or snow removal regulations.
C. 
Handicapped parking signs will remain the property of the City of Hazleton.
D. 
The issuing authority will police and control areas governed by a handicapped parking sign.
E. 
The issuing authority will take the following factors into consideration in the issuance of handicapped parking signs:
(1) 
Overall availability of parking in the area wherein a sign is requested.
(2) 
The living arrangements of an individual applicant herein; for example, a disabled person living alone and responsible for his or her own transportation.
(3) 
Existing parking problems in the area wherein a sign is requested.
F. 
The granting of a handicapped parking space permit entitles the applicant to the option of limiting access to said parking space reserved as a handicapped parking space to a specific vehicle, license plate or other method of designation.