[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Unity 6-4-1993 by Ord. No. O-1-1993. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Vehicle Code of Pennsylvania as now
in force, or as hereafter amended, enacted or reenacted, except in
those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
The singular shall include the plural, and the masculine shall include
the feminine.
[Amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
The Board of Supervisors of Unity Township may, from time to
time hereafter, enact ordinances establishing and implementing traffic
and parking regulations and controls for the protection of the public
health, safety and welfare. Such ordinances may establish stop streets,
through streets, speed limits on particular highways, delineate restricted
parking areas, provide for the construction of traffic signs, traffic
signals and other traffic control devices and supplement other provisions
of this chapter consistent with the terms of the Pennsylvania Motor
Vehicle Code.[1] Such additional regulations shall be implemented by ordinance,
any new regulation, restriction or control added to either Addendum
A or Addendum B hereafter and be enforceable under this chapter.[2]
The Board of Supervisors shall have the following powers to
regulate traffic and parking temporarily and in times of emergency:
A.
In the case of fire, flood, storm or other emergency, to establish
temporary traffic and parking regulations.
B.
In the case of emergency or to facilitate public works or in the
case of the conduct of parades and other public events, to restrict
or prohibit parking or traffic in limited areas for periods of not
more than 72 hours. Such temporary and emergency regulations shall
be enforced by the Board of Supervisors and the appropriate law enforcement
agency in the same manner as permanent regulations. Any person who
shall operate a vehicle in violation of any such regulation shall
be liable to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere in this
chapter for such violation.
The police officers of the state are hereby given authority
to direct traffic on the highways of the Township and at intersections
thereof.
No person shall operate any motor vehicle longitudinally upon
any sidewalk in the Township, nor shall any person operate any motor
vehicle upon or across any sidewalk except in order to gain egress
from a driveway at such locations where the curb, if such sidewalk
is curbed, shall have been properly cut down for the purpose, provided
that the word "sidewalk," as used in this section, shall mean any
portion of any street or abutting upon a street, which is used or
reserved as a sidewalk, whether paved or not.
[Amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
Except where a special hazard exists that requires lower limits
for the safe operation of vehicles under 75 Pa.C.S.A § 3361
(relating to operating vehicles at safe speeds), no person shall operate
a motor vehicle on any roadway within the Township at a speed in excess
of the following limits:
A.
35 miles
per hour in any urban district;
B.
65 miles
per hour or 70 miles per hour for all vehicles on freeways where the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has posted
either a 65 miles per hour or 70 miles per hour speed limit;
D.
55 miles
per hour in other locations; and
E.
Any other
maximum speed limit established in accordance with the provisions
of 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3363.
[Added 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
A.
No maximum
speed limit established herein shall be effective unless posted on
fixed or variable official traffic-control devices erected in accordance
with regulations adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation in effect at the time the speed restrictions were
or are imposed.
B.
No maximum
speed limit established hereunder shall be effective unless posted
on fixed or variable official traffic-control devices erected after
each interchange on the portion of highway on which the speed limit
is in effect and wherever else same may be required by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in effect at the time
the speed restrictions were or are imposed.
C.
The Board
of Supervisors of Unity Township shall be and are hereby authorized
to post the speed limits established in this Section consistent with
the foregoing requirements.
[Added 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
All posted speed limit areas that have been previously established
by resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Unity Township, or which
are otherwise posted and/or set forth in the attached Addendum A,[1] are hereby ratified, validated confirmed, affirmed, reaffirmed,
restated and reinstated and shall continue in full force and effect
in the Township. All posted speed limit areas, which are to the date
of the adoption of this chapter in effect in the Township of Unity,
are hereby declared ratified and validated and any violation of same
is a violation of this chapter and punishable in the same manner as
if such regulation had been enacted after the effective date of this
chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Addendum A is on file in the Township offices.
[Added 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
A.
The provisions
of this chapter shall be enforced pursuant to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, currently in effect and as may be
amended from time to time hereafter.
C.
Any person
exceeding the maximum speed limit by more than five miles per hour
shall pay an additional fine of $2 per mile for each mile in excess
of five miles per hour over the maximum speed limit.
[Amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
The Board of Supervisors of Unity Township may from time to
time hereafter enact ordinances restricting streets in the Township
of Unity, or designated portions thereof, to accommodate traffic in
one direction only. All one-way streets which are to the date of the
adoption of this chapter in effect in the Township of Unity, are hereby
declared ratified and validated and any violation of same is an offense
under this chapter in the same manner as if such regulation had been
enacted after the effective date of this chapter. Any person who shall
operate a vehicle upon a street or portion thereof hereby established
as a one-way street other than in the direction established hereby
for vehicular traffic thereon shall be in violation of this chapter
and subject to those penalties set forth hereafter.
[Amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
The Board of Supervisors may, by ordinance, cause the implementation,
erection and placement of traffic control devices, including, but
not limited to, "red lights," "stop signs," "yield" signs, "no parking
signs" and other devices necessary to calm the flow of traffic and
protect the public health, safety and welfare, at and along intersectional
streets, approaches to such intersectional streets, and other roadways
and highways in the Township. Such traffic control devices shall be
erected for traffic on such streets, roadways or highways in the direction
or directions and at such intersections as the Board of Supervisors
shall direct and be located in areas and locations consistent with
the requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation and/or the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code. Any person
who fails to comply with any traffic control device, or fails to operate
a vehicle in compliance with same, shall be in violation of this chapter
and subject to those penalties set forth herein.
[Added 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
All traffic control devices that have been previously established
and placed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Unity Township,
or which are otherwise posted and/or set forth in the attached Addendum
B,[1] are hereby ratified, validated confirmed, affirmed, reaffirmed,
restated and reinstated and shall continue in full force and effect
in the Township. All posted stop signs, traffic lights, restricted
or "no-parking" areas which are to the date of the adoption of this
chapter in effect in the Township of Unity, are hereby declared ratified
and validated and any violation of same is a violation of this chapter
and punishable in the same manner as if such regulation had been enacted
after the effective date of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: Addendum B is on file in the Township offices.
By resolution of the Board of Supervisors, as hereinbefore provided,
streets in the Township of Unity, or designated lengths thereof, may
be designated and declared to be set aside for the use of passenger
motor vehicles only, but not including any passenger motor vehicle
drawing any trailer or towing any other vehicle. No person shall at
any time operate any commercial motor vehicle or any truck or tractor
upon any portion of street so set aside, except for the purpose of
delivery of goods, wares or merchandise to or collecting the same
from premises located on any such portion of street, provided that
nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to operate any fire
apparatus or Fire Department vehicle upon any street or portion thereof.
Parking is hereby prohibited at any and all times in the following
locations:
A.
In culs-de-sac or turnarounds.
B.
On such streets, roadways or highways and on such sides or portions
thereof as the Board of Supervisors may by ordinance from time to
time direct.
[Amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
C.
In front of a driveway or so close to the front of a driveway as
to impede the ingress or egress to or from said driveway.
Within one hour after the commencement of each fall of snow
in the Township of Unity, it shall be the duty of the owner, the lessee
or the operator of any vehicle which has been parked upon any street,
roadway or highway in the Township to remove said vehicle from the
public streets and highways of the Township. If a vehicle is not moved
as herein provided, its authorized agents and employees shall have
the right to remove such vehicle by towing or other means, and the
costs of such removal shall be collected from such owner, lessee or
operator in addition to the fine and costs hereinbefore set forth.
The Board of Supervisors shall have the right by resolution
to temporarily close any Township road, street or highway when, in
its opinion, excessive or unusual conditions have rendered such road,
street or highway unfit or unsafe for travel. Such road or portion
of a road, street or highway shall be properly marked in accordance
with law, and any person using such road, street or highway or portion
thereof after the same has been properly closed and marked, without
a permit from the official in charge, shall be in violation of this
chapter.
A.
(1)
Designate in writing to the Supervisors which roads are to be used
and the length of time the excessive usage is to continue.
(2)
Maintenance and replacement agreement.
(a)
Enter into an agreement with the Supervisors of Unity Township
to maintain the roadway, street or highway, including culverts, drains,
drainage pipes and bridges, and, as well, to resurface the road upon
termination of its use.
(b)
The agreement shall also contain a provision for the posting
of an appropriate bond to cover the cost of replacement of the surface
and base of the roadway and, as well, to maintain the roadway during
the term of its use. The amount of said bond shall be determined by
the Township Engineer.
B.
In those circumstances where the permit obtained involves the use
of a bridge or bridges, then the bond shall include an amount equal
to 50% of the replacement cost of the depreciated value of the bridge
as determined by the Township Engineer.
[Amended 11-28-2000 by Ord. No. O-10-2000; 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. O-3-2021]
A.
It is
a summary offense for any person to violate any of the provisions
of this chapter unless the violation is by statute of this Commonwealth
declared to be a misdemeanor or felony. Any person convicted of a
summary offense for a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter
for which another penalty is not provided shall be sentenced to pay
a fine of $25.
B.
It is
a summary offense for a person to violate any provision of any regulation
promulgated under the authority of this chapter. Any person convicted
of violating any provision of a regulation promulgated under the authority
of this chapter shall pay the fine established in the section of this
chapter on which the regulation is based or, if no fine is established
in that section, the fine shall be $25.
C.
Any person
convicted of violating any provision, or provision of a regulation,
promulgated under the authority of this chapter shall, in addition
to the payment of any fine established herein pay the fine established
in the section of this chapter on which the regulation is based, shall
pay all court costs and, where applicable, all attorney's fees incurred
by the Township in relation to same.
D.
Title
18 (relating to crimes and offenses), insofar as it relates to fines
and imprisonment for convictions of summary offenses, is not applicable
to this title.
All posted speed limit areas, stop signs, traffic lights and
restricted parking areas which are to date of the adoption of this
chapter in effect in the Township of Unity, are hereby declared ratified
and validated and the violation of such provisions is an offense under
this chapter in the same manner as if such regulation had been enacted
after the effective date of this chapter.
