[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005; as amended by Ord. 285, 3/11/2019]
1. 
Words and phrases, when used in this Chapter, except for sections or parts to which different or additional definitions apply, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa. C.S.A. §101 et seq., except that in this Chapter the word “street” may be used interchangeably with the word “highway,” and shall have the same meaning as the word “highway” as defined in the Vehicle Code.
2. 
The term “legal holidays” as used in this Chapter shall mean and include: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
3. 
In this Chapter, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the masculine shall include the feminine.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
A fire department vehicle, police vehicle, ambulance, blood delivery vehicle, Armed Forces emergency vehicle, one private vehicle of a fire or police chief or assistant chief, or ambulance corps commander or assistant commander, or of a river rescue commander used for answering emergency calls, or other vehicle designated by the State Police under Section 6106 of the “Vehicle Code” (relating to designation of emergency vehicles by Pennsylvania State Police).
EXCESS MAINTENANCE
Maintenance or restoration or both (but not betterment) of a posted highway in excess of normal maintenance, caused by use of over-posted-weight vehicles.
LOCAL TRAFFIC
Emergency vehicles and school buses, defined hereinafter, vehicles and combinations or governmental entities and utilities where their contractors are engaged in construction or maintenance on a posted highway or in a location which can be reached only via a posted highway, and vehicles and combinations going to or coming from a residence or farm located on a posted highway or which can be reached only via a posted highway.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle or combination as defined and/or governed by the “Vehicle Code,” 75 Pa. C.S.A. §101 et seq., as amended.
MUNICIPALITY
The Department, as to State designated highways and local authorities, as to all other streets and highways.
NORMAL MAINTENANCE
The usual and typical activities necessary to maintain the roadway, shoulders and drainage facilities in the state of repair existing at the date of the inspection prescribed in 75 Pa. C.S.A. §189.4(f)(1) (relating to use under permit).
OVER-POSTED-WEIGHT VEHICLE
A vehicle or combination having a gross weight in excess of a posted weight limit.
POSTED HIGHWAY
A highway having a posted weight limit.
POSTED WEIGHT LIMIT
A restricted weight limit posted on a highway under authority of 75 Pa. C.S.A. §4902.
SCHOOL BUS
A motor vehicle designated for carrying more than 10 passengers, exclusive of the driver, and used for the transportation of school children.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
The provisions of this Chapter, so far as they are the same as those of Ordinances and regulations in force immediately before the enactment of this Chapter, are intended as a continuation of those earlier Ordinances and regulations, and not as new enactments. Nothing in this Chapter shall affect any act done or liability incurred, or any suit or prosecution pending or to be instituted under any of those repealed or superseded Ordinances or regulations.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
1. 
The Designated Official shall have the following powers to regulate traffic and parking temporarily and in time of emergency:
A. 
In the case of fire, flood, storm or other emergency, to establish temporary traffic and/or parking regulations.
B. 
In the case of emergency or to facilitate public works, or in the conduct of parades, processions or public events, to restrict or prohibit traffic and/or parking in limited areas for periods of not more than 72 hours.
2. 
Such temporary and emergency regulations shall be enforced by the Police Department in the same manner as permanent regulations. Any person who shall operate or park a vehicle or tractor in violation of any such regulation, or who shall, move, remove, destroy, injure or deface any sign or marking erected, posted or made to give notice of any such regulation, shall upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere in this Chapter for a violation of such nature and, in case of a violation for which no specific penalty is set forth in the law or elsewhere in this Chapter, to a fine of not more than $25 together with costs of prosecution.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
The Township may, from time to time by resolution, designate places upon and along the highways in the Township where, for a period of not more than 90 days, specific traffic and/or parking regulations, prohibitions and restrictions shall be in force and effect, and shall designate such locations by proper signs and markings. Such regulations, prohibitions and restrictions shall be effective as if they had been specified in this Chapter. No person shall operate and no person shall move, remove, destroy or deface any sign or marking erected, posted or made by authority of this Section. Any person who shall violate any provision of this Section shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere in this Chapter for a violation of such nature and, in case of a violation for which no specific penalty is set forth in the law or elsewhere in this Chapter, to a fine of not more than $25 together with costs of prosecution; provided, the purpose of this Section is to allow for test and experimental determination of the feasibility and desirability of permanent changes in the Ordinances of the Township relative to traffic and parking.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
1. 
The Township shall have authority to close any street or specific part of a street to vehicular traffic and to place barriers or station police officers at each end of the closed portion while construction or maintenance work is under way or a special event is being conducted on the closed portion. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle upon any such closed portion.
2. 
The Township shall have authority to establish a restricted traffic area upon any street where construction or maintenance work is under way and to station flagmen at each end of the restricted portion. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle upon any such restricted traffic area at any time when the flagman is displaying a sign directing that vehicle to stop, or is signaling that vehicle, by a flag or other device, not to proceed.
3. 
Any person who violates any provision of this Section shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and costs.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
1. 
For the purpose of this Section, the words “assemblage” and “procession” shall have the following meanings:
ASSEMBLAGE
A gathering of people without vehicles, which interferes with the movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on any street.
PROCESSION
A group of individuals, vehicles, animals and/or objects moving along a street in a way that interferes with the normal movement of traffic. A procession shall not include a funeral caravan or military convoy.
2. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to hold or participate in any assemblage unless the person organizing or conducting the assemblage first obtains a permit from the Designated Official which shall be issued without fee. Application for the permit shall be made at least one week in advance of the day on which the assemblage is proposed to be held, but in any case where a State-designated highway is proposed to be used, application shall be made at least three weeks in advance of the proposed date. The permit shall state the place where and the date when the assemblage is to be held, the hour when the assemblage may convene and the hour by which it shall have been completely dispersed. It shall be unlawful for any person to hold or to participate in any assemblage unless the permit has been granted, or at any time or place other than that authorized by the permit.
3. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to hold or participate in any procession unless the person organizing or conducting the procession first obtains a permit from the Designated Official, which shall be issued without fee. Application for the permit shall be made at least two weeks in advance of the day when the procession is proposed to be held, but in any case where the State-designated highway is proposed to be used, application shall be made at least three weeks in advance of the proposed date. The permit shall specify the date on which the procession is to be held, the route to be followed by the procession, the hour when and place where participants may commence to assemble and form before the procession is under way, the time when the procession may commence to move along its route, and the time by which the end of the procession shall have been disbanded. It shall be unlawful for any person to hold or to participate in any procession unless the permit shall have been granted, or under any conditions as to time or route or otherwise than those stated in the permit.
4. 
Any person who violates any provision of this Section shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and costs.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
The police officers of the Township are hereby authorized to direct traffic on the highways of the Township and at intersections thereof and to otherwise enforce the provisions of this Chapter.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
1. 
The Police Department is hereby authorized to use all speed timing devices for the determination of speed of a motor vehicle as are approved or will be approved by the Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in accordance with 75 Pa.C.S.A. §3368.
2. 
This Section authorizes the use of said devices upon all highways within the Township be the Township, County or State highways, and does also hereby elect to exercise all powers granted to "local authorities" under the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 75 Pa.C.S.A. §6101 et seq., as hereafter amended, supplemented, modified or reenacted by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
[Ord. 218, 6/27/2005]
1. 
This Section shall be known and may be cited as the “Cruising Ordinance.”
2. 
Legislative Findings. It is hereby found by the Board of Supervisors that a general public nuisance and threat to the public health, safety and welfare results from the repetitive unnecessary driving of motor vehicles, also known as cruising, in a designated area of Richland Township. The purpose of this Section is to reduce the noise, air pollution and congestion resulting from cruising, and to insure access for safety vehicles to and through the designated areas as further defined herein, by restricting repetitive driving of motor vehicles in said designated areas.
3. 
Definitions. For the purpose of this Section, the following definitions shall apply:
CRUISING
A motor vehicle on a street past a traffic control point in the designated area three or more times within any two-hour period during the times and days as specified in Subsection 4. Passing the control point a third time under the same conditions stated herein shall constitute cruising and therefore a violation of this Section.
DESIGNATED AREA OR NO CRUISE AREA
Those roadways, highways or trafficways designated by the Police Department and posted as such. Any designated area shall be approved by the Board of Supervisors at a public meeting and shall be posted for 30 days prior to enforcement.
LOITERING OR VEHICULAR LOITERING
To enter and remain on the property of another, or along highways, roadways or trafficways, with no legitimate purpose, or without patronizing the residents, businesses or facilities located there.
TRAFFIC CONTROL POINT
A reference point in a designated area selected by the Police Department for the purpose of enforcement of this Section.
4. 
Cruising Prohibited.
A. 
For the purpose of this Section, the person having care, custody or control of a motor vehicle shall also be considered a person cruising regardless whether that person was actually driving the motor vehicle. For the purposes of this Section, the person having “care, custody or control of a motor vehicle” shall mean either the owner of said vehicle, or if the owner is not so present, the person or persons having the owner’s authority to use the vehicle.
B. 
No person shall cruise, in or around a designated and posted “no cruising” area, so as to contribute to traffic congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks or parking lots, impediment of access to shopping centers or other buildings open to the public or interference with the use of property or conduct of business in the area adjacent thereto. These specified times shall be from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, and all day Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
5. 
Loitering Prohibited. No person shall loiter, whether in a vehicle (“vehicular loitering”) or as a pedestrian (“loitering”) in a “Designated No Cruise” area, so as to contribute to traffic congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks or parking lots, impediment of access to shopping centers or other buildings open to the public or interference with the use of property or conduct of business in the area adjacent thereto. This subsection shall have no specified time frame; it shall be in effect at all times.
6. 
Exclusions. This Section shall not apply to official emergency or police vehicles, licensed taxi cabs for hire, or other commercial or passenger vehicles being driven for business or other legitimate purposes, and for residents of the designated area traveling to a specific destination.