ARTICLE I, General Provisions
§ 196-1. Definitions.
§ 196-2. Directional standards.
§ 196-3. Signage; amendments.
§ 196-4. Temporary and emergency regulations. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-19]
§ 196-5. Markings, signs, lanes and parking spaces. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-193
§ 196-6. Reporting accidents.
§ 196-7. Accident reports.
§ 196-8. Violations and penalties.
§ 196-9. Authority of police officers, fire police and school crossing guards.
§ 196-10. Obedience to police officers, fire police and school crossing guards.
§ 196-11. Compliance with state law.
ARTICLE II, One-Way Streets and Alleys
§ 196-12. Signs.
§ 196-13. One-way traffic only.
§ 196-14. Barrier at Scenery-Lakewood intersection. (Added 5-2-1977 by Ord. No. 77-8]
ARTICLE III, Traffic Control Devices
§ 196-15. Installation.
§ 196-16. Conformance with state law.
§ 196-17. Investigation prior to change.
ARTICLE IV, Stop Intersections and Through Streets
§ 196-18. Designation and vehicle operation.
ARTICLE V, Speed Zones
§ 196-19. Restricted zones designated.
ARTICLE VI, Stopping, Standing and Parking
§ 196-20. Definitions.
§ 196-21. Parking in restricted zones.
§ 196-22. Allowing another to park in restricted zones.
§ 196-23. Fire lanes.
§ 196-24. Campers, trailers and boats. [Added 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 88-19]
§ 196-25. Truck tractors and trailers. [Added 6-3-1991 by Ord. No. 91-08)
§ 196-26. Violations and penalties. [Amended 6-5-1978 by Ord. No. 78-4; 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 88-19]
ARTICLE VII, Snow Emergency [Adopted 11-21-1994 by Ord. No. 94-22]
§ 196-27. Manager may declare snow emergency.
§ 196-28. Other emergency powers not restricted.
§ 196-29. Placing snow, ice or other articles on roadway.
§ 196-30. Snow removal from sidewalks.
§ 196-31. Maintenance of alleys.
§ 196-32. Violations and penalties.
ARTICLE VIII, Bicycle Licensing
§ 196-33. Definitions.
§ 196-34. Registration required.
§ 196-35. Issuance of registration.
§ 196-36. Registration sticker provided.
§ 196-37. Sticker fee; replacement.
§ 196-38. Report of sale or transfer required.
§ 196-39. Altering serial or registration numbers.
§ 196-40. Inspection of bicycle.
§ 196-41. Report by bicycle dealer to Police Department.
§ 196-42. Violations and penalties.
ARTICLE IX, Operation on Private Property
§ 196-43. Definitions.
§ 196-44. Consent required; exceptions.
§ 196-45. Operation for sport or recreation.
§ 196-46. Violations and penalties
§ 196-1. Definitions.
- A. The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this article, except when the context requires other meanings:
CURB LOADING ZONE -- A space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of people or materials.
FIRE LANE -- An unobstructed area immediately adjacent to and surrounding all buildings for public use and the entrance, exit, passageways and main vehicular accessways for all apartment complexes that comprise eight or more units. In the case of shopping centers and other commercial establishments for public use, such fire lanes shall be reserved for use by emergency vehicles. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-19]
POLICE OFFICER -- Every officer of the Lower Paxton Township Police Department.
RESTRICTED PARKING ZONE -- An area where parking is restricted through the use of signs that designate such restricted parking and its limitations.
SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS -- Persons authorized by the Board of Supervisors of Lower Paxton Township to direct and regulate traffic and pedestrians at designated school crossings of the Central Dauphin School District within Lower Paxton Township.
SPECIAL FIRE POLICE -- Persons authorized by the Board of Supervisors of Lower Paxton Township to direct and regulate traffic at fire scenes, firehouse functions or other emergencies, as directed by the Lower Paxton Township Police Department.
- B. Whenever any words or phrases are not defined in this article but are defined in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code in effect at the time of the violation or incident, those definitions shall be accepted.
§ 196-2. Directional standards.
For the purpose of this chapter, U.S. Route 22 and all streets parallel to it shall be deemed to travel east and west, while all streets perpendicular to U.S. Route 22 shall be deemed to travel north and south.
§ 196-3. Signage; amendments.
The Township Manager, after receiving an affirmative recommendation from the Lower Paxton Township Police Department, shall be authorized to erect regulatory signs in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation standards and to add those regulations onto Schedules I, II, III and IV of this chapter. This provision shall not apply to the erection of traffic signals.
§ 196-4. Temporary and emergency regulations. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-19]
- A. The Township Manager shall have the following powers to regulate traffic and parking temporarily and in times of emergency:
- In the case of fire, flood, storm or other emergency, to establish temporary traffic and parking regulations.
- In the case of emergency or to facilitate public works or in the case of the conduct of processions and public events, to restrict or prohibit parking or traffic in limited areas for periods of not more than 24 hours.
- B. Such temporary and emergency regulations shall be enforced by the Police Department of the township in the same manner as permanent regulations.
§ 196-5. Markings, signs, lanes and parking spaces. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-19]
The Township Manager shall further have the power and authority to establish, change and abolish, and to designate by appropriate markings or signs, crosswalks, traffic lanes and parking spaces which are authorized by state law or other ordinances.
§ 196-6. Reporting accidents.
Any person operating a motor vehicle and involved in an accident within the township shall report it to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Lower Paxton Township Police Department as prescribed in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code in effect at the time of the accident.
§ 196-7. Accident reports.
A copy of any accident report shall be made available to any person desiring one for a fee through the business offices of the township during normal office hours.
§ 196-8. Violations and penalties.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which violates or fails to comply with any provision of this chapter or any regulation issued in conformity with this chapter for which another penalty is not provided shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $50, together with costs of prosecution, which fine and costs shall be collected in the manner provided by law for the recovery of fines and penalties for the violation of ordinances, and in default thereof shall be imprisoned in the county prison for a period not exceeding 10 days.
§ 196-9. Authority of police officers, fire police and school crossing guards.
- A. It shall be the duty of police officers to enforce the traffic laws of the township and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- B. Police officers are hereby authorized to direct and regulate traffic on all streets and intersections within the township as deemed necessary to effectively move the traffic flow.
- C. Fire police are hereby authorized to direct and regulate traffic at fire scenes, firehouse functions or other emergencies as authorized by the senior police officer on duty at the scene.
- D. School crossing guards are hereby authorized to direct and regulate traffic and pedestrians at assigned school crossing locations.
§ 196-10. Obedience to police officers, fire police and school crossing guards.
No person shall willfully and knowingly refuse to comply with a lawful order or direction of a police officer, fire police or school crossing guard.
§ 196-11. Compliance with state law.
All traffic arrests instituted by members of the Police Department shall be made in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Procedure and under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code in effect at the time of the violation unless brought under a section of this chapter when no other law supersedes it.
§ 196-12. Signs.
Whenever any approval has been given to establish a one-way street or alley, adequate and sufficient signs shall be erected giving such notice. These signs shall indicate the direction of traffic flow on the street.
§ 196-13. One-way traffic only.
Upon those streets and parts of streets or alleys as designated in Schedule I of this chapter, vehicular traffic shall move in only one direction as indicated by official signs, and traffic moving in the opposite direction shall be prohibited.
§ 196-14. Barrier at Scenery-Lakewood intersection. [Added 5-2-1977 by Ord. No. 77-8]
- A. In order to promote the public health and safety, the Township Highway Department is hereby directed to erect and construct a permanent barrier so as to cross the intersection of Scenery Drive and Lakewood Drive on a diagonal extending from the southwest corner to the northwest corner of the intersection to create a looped roadway system, with the northern half carrying traffic from Londonderry Road on Scenery Drive in a southwest direction and back to Londonderry Road on Lakewood Drive in a northwest direction, and with the southern loop carrying traffic from Union Deposit Road on Scenery Drive in a northeast direction and back to Union Deposit Road on Lakewood Drive in a southeast direction.
- B. Scenery Drive is hereby designated as a minor street as defined by the Subdivision Regulations in Chapter 203, Zoning and Land Use.
- C. The barrier to be erected and the land upon which the barrier is located shall be the property of the township, and this section shall not be construed as the intent of the township to vacate any portion of Scenery Drive or Lakewood Drive.
§ 196-15. Installation.
The Board of Supervisors may erect and maintain official traffic control devices, warning signs and information signs as it deems necessary to effectively control traffic within the township.
§ 196-16. Conformance with state law.
All traffic control devices, warning signs or information signs shall be erected in conformance with current Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations.
§ 196-17. Investigation prior to change.
Prior to the erection of any traffic control devices that alter or change an established traffic flow pattern, an extensive and complete investigation shall be performed to determine the validity and need of such change.
§ 196-18. Designation and vehicle operation.
Stop intersections are hereby established as described in Schedule II of this chapter, and all traffic shall be required to stop at such stop signs and yield to traffic on the through street perpendicular or adjacent thereto.
§ 196-19. Restricted zones designated.
Restricted speed zones are hereby established as described in Schedule III of this chapter, and all traffic shall travel at a speed equal to or less than the maximum speed limit. Such restrictions shall be posted on official speed limit signs and in accordance with posting requirements of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code in effect at the time of erection and its future amendments.
§ 196-20. Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
TRAILER -- A vehicle without motive power, designed to carry property or passengers and to be drawn by a motor vehicle.
TRUCK TRACTOR -- A motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
Restricted speed zones are hereby established as described in Schedule III of this chapter, and all traffic shall travel at a speed equal to or less than the maximum speed limit. Such restrictions shall be posted on official speed limit signs and in accordance with posting requirements of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code in effect at the time of erection and its future amendments.
§ 196-21. Parking in restricted zones.
No person shall park or let stand any vehicle in any area where official signs or parking regulations prohibit such parking. No-parking zones are hereby established as outlined in Schedule IV of this chapter, and any person found parking in these restricted parking zones shall be issued a parking ticket.
§ 196-22. Allowing another to park in restricted zones.
No owner shall allow any person to park or let stand a vehicle in any area where official signs or parking regulations prohibit such parking. No-parking zones are hereby established as outlined in Schedule IV of this chapter, and any owner who delivers possession of his vehicle to any person found parking in these restricted parking zones shall be issued a parking ticket.
§ 196-23. Fire lanes.
- A. No person, firm or corporation shall barricade, stop a vehicle, park or otherwise block any driveway, passage, entrance, main access routes or exitways to, in, through, about or out of any public building or any place occupied for public use or accommodation, whether upon public or private property, to include the entrance, exit, main accessways and passageways of apartment complexes having eight or more units, so as to interfere with or obstruct the free and unimpeded passage of persons and fire and emergency vehicles into and around such buildings and complexes. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-19]
- B. On private property which is devoted to public use, there shall be maintained one or more unobstructed lanes to provide for the ingress and egress of Fire Department vehicles, equipment and personnel, such lanes to be a minimum of 12 feet in width and laid out for convenient access from the public thoroughfares and water supplied to the building or buildings. The marking of such lanes shall be performed and maintained by and at the expense of the property owner or occupier.
- C. All fire lanes serving any building open for public use and all entrance, exit, driveways, accessways and passageways of private apartment complexes having eight or more units shall be designated by official signs approved by the township. The marking of such fire lanes and the erection and maintenance of such official signs prohibiting or limiting parking or standing in a fire lane shall be at the expense of the property owner. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-19]
- D. All fire lanes on private property shall be kept clear of snow, ice and other matter to allow for the free movement of emergency vehicles. Such removal of snow, ice and other matter shall be at the expense of the property owner and will be completed within 24 hours after snow has ceased falling. [Amended 12-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-19]
§ 196-24. Campers, trailers and boats. [Added 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 88-19]
No person shall park, store or let stand a camper, trailer, boat or any other similar vehicle which is not self-propelled on any public street at any time.
§ 196-25. Truck tractors and trailers. [Added 6-3-1991 by Ord. No. 91-08]
- A. The parking of truck tractors, truck tractors with trailers and trailers is prohibited on any and all public streets in any residential district according to the zoning classifications and regulations set forth in Chapter 203, Zoning and Land Use.
- B. Truck tractors with trailers may be temporarily parked on any public street within a residential district for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property in front of or making local deliveries to premises situate on said street, provided that at least three portable emergency warning devices are displayed upon the roadway at the approach to the vehicle.
- C. Notice of parking restrictions shall be provided by means of posted traffic control devices, certified letter, personal service or placing a notice on the windshield or other readily visible location on the vehicle. In absence of a posted traffic control device, this section shall not be enforced by citation unless a notice of violation has been issued to the owner or operator of the vehicle by any means previously enumerated, prior to the date and time enforcement is initiated.
§ 196-26. Violations and penalties. [Amended 6-5-1978 by Ord. No. 78-4; 12-5-1988 by Ord. No. 88-19EN]
- A. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article dealing with fire lanes shall pay a fine as follows:
- The sum of $25 if the same is paid within five days at the Township Building during the hours hereinafter set forth, or upon failure to pay the sum of $25 within the time above-mentioned, then upon summary conviction before a District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine of $50 and the costs of prosecution, and in default of the payment thereof shall undergo imprisonment for not more than five days.
- Fines shall be payable at the Lower Paxton Township Police Department during the hours of normal business operation of the records office, as established and so posted by the Township Manager.
- B. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article relating to parking in restricted zones shall pay a fine as follows:
- Any person, firm or corporation who or which causes, allows, permits or suffers any vehicle to be parked in any zone in which parking is prohibited either by this article or otherwise by law shall pay to the township an unlawful parking charge in the amount of $10. There shall be a separate unlawful parking charge of $10 for each consecutive separate period of 1/2 hour during which such unlawful parking continues. Failure to pay such unlawful parking charge within five days after such violation will result in an additional late charge of $2.00.
- Whoever parks unlawfully in a restricted zone as provided in this article and fails to pay any unlawful parking charge, including any late charge, shall be, upon conviction thereof, fined $25 and costs and, in default of payment thereof, shall be imprisoned in the Dauphin County Prison for not more than 10 days.
- C. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article relating to parking a camper, trailer, boat or other similar vehicle on a public street shall pay a fine in the sum of $25 if paid within five days, or upon failure to pay the sum of $25 within the aforementioned time period, then upon summary conviction before a District Justice be sentenced to pay a fine of $50 and the costs of prosecution, and in default of the payment thereof shall be imprisoned in the Dauphin County Prison for not more than five days.
§ 196-27. Manager may declare snow emergency.
The Manager of the township or his designated representative shall have the power to declare an emergency that exists when any of the streets or highways or parts thereof are covered by snow or ice which, in his discretion, causes or will cause a condition of serious traffic congestion. Such emergency shall be known as a "snow emergency."
§ 196-28. Other emergency powers not restricted.
This article shall not restrict the authority of the Township Supervisors or the Township Manager to establish any temporary or emergency traffic regulations in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Code.
§ 196-29. Placing snow, ice or other articles on roadway.
During the process of snow removal from sidewalks, driveways or other areas, no firm, person or corporation shall place, throw, block or by any other means place snow, ice, slush or other matter onto or in a public street, alley or other publicly maintained property.
§ 196-30. Snow removal from sidewalks.
It shall be the duty of any property owner, tenant, agent in charge or occupier of any property within the township to remove all snow, ice, slush or other matter from the sidewalks in front of and along his property within 24 hours after snow has ceased falling. Such removal shall provide for the free passage of pedestrians for a width of at least 36 inches. The provisions of this section shall toll during the period of time in which a snow emergency has been declared.
§ 196-31. Maintenance of alleys.
During a declared snow emergency or after six inches of snow has accumulated on the surface of the ground, the township may, in its sole discretion, perform winter maintenance activities, including but not limited to snow plowing and spreading a antiskid materials on certain alleys and other nonpublic thoroughfares as identified in Attachment A, which is made a part hereof, incorporated herein by reference and attached hereto.
§ 196-32. Violations and penalties.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which violates any provision of this article shall, for each and every such violation, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $50 not more than $100, plus costs of prosecution. Each day of continuous violation of any provision of this article shall constitute a separate violation.
§ 196-33. Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BICYCLE -- A pedalcycle having two wheels with tires 16 inches or more in diameter connected by a frame of metal or wood and arranged to be propelled by human power. This definition does not apply to toy bicycles or velocipedes.
§ 196-34. Registration required.
No person residing in the township shall ride or use a bicycle without first obtaining from the Police Department a registration therefor as prescribed in this article.
§ 196-35. Issuance of registration.
The Police Department is hereby authorized and directed to issue, upon written application, to any resident of the township a permanent bicycle registration, which registration shall entitle the licensee to operate the registered bicycle upon all the streets and public highways of the township. The Police Department shall keep a record of the date of issuance of each registration.
§ 196-36. Registration sticker provided.
The Police Department shall provide each bicycle with a reflective registration sticker with registration number, indicating that the registration was issued by the township. The reflective license sticker shall be attached to the lower end of the rear fender by or under the direction of the Police Department at a location where it will always be plainly visible and in such manner as will prevent its removal. The issuance of the registration shall be after the collection of the registration fee as provided by this article. Registration fees shall be paid to the Township Treasurer by the Police Department. The reflective license sticker shall remain attached to the bicycle during the time of its use in the township.
§ 196-37. Sticker fee; replacement.
The Police Department shall collect a fee as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors for each bicycle registered. Upon the loss of a registration sticker, and upon evidence satisfactory of such loss, a new registration sticker shall be issued upon payment of a fee as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
§ 196-38. Report of sale or transfer required.
- A. It shall be the duty of any person who sells or transfers ownership of any bicycle to report such sale or transfer by returning to the Police Department the registration card issued to such person, together with the name and address of the person to whom the bicycle was sold or transferred. Such report shall be made within five days of the date of the sale or transfer thereof.
- B. It shall be the duty of the purchaser or the transferee of such bicycle to apply to the Police Department for registration thereof within five days of the date of such sale or transfer.
§ 196-39. Altering serial or registration numbers.
No person, firm, partnership or corporation shall willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the manufacturer's number of any bicycle frame registered pursuant to this article or remove, destroy, mutilate or alter any registration sticker, seal or registration card. However, nothing in this article shall prohibit the Police Department from stamping a number on the frame of bicycles on which no serial number can be found or on which such number is illegible for identification purposes. The Police Department may also stamp upon the frame of any bicycle registered a number which shall be the secret number of the Police Department, if so required in the administration of this article to prevent bicycle larceny and to recover stolen bicycles.
§ 196-40. Inspection of bicycle.
The Police Department shall inspect each bicycle offered for registration, and if the applicant's bicycle is not in good ridable condition and properly equipped, the registration of the applicant's bicycle shall be withheld until all requirements of the Motor Vehicle Code are met.
All persons, firms, partnerships or corporations engaged in the business of buying used bicycles shall make regular reports to the Police Department, on forms to be furnished by the Police Department, giving a list of all purchases and sales made by such dealer, as well as the names and addresses of all persons, firms, partnerships and corporations from whom such bicycles are purchased and to whom sold, and the number thereof, and in the case of a used bicycle bought from an individual or taken in trade from a person buying a new bicycle or a used bicycle from the dealer's stock, the number of the license plate thereon, if any.
§ 196-42. Violations and penalties.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which violates § 196-39 herein shall, upon summary conviction before a District Justice, be fined not less than $50 nor more than $300, together with costs of prosecution. Upon default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed and costs, the defendant may be sentenced and committed to the county prison for not more than 10 days.
§ 196-43. Definitions.
As used in this article, certain terms are defined as follows:
IMMEDIATE FAMILY -- The spouse, son, daughter, father, mother or other blood relative residing with the owner or person in possession of private property.
MOTOR VEHICLE -- Shall have the meaning attributed to it under the provisions of the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
§ 196-44. Consent required; exceptions.
No person shall drive or operate any motor vehicle upon any private property in Lower Paxton Township without the written consent of the owner or other person in control or possession of such property. This provision shall not apply to any deliveryman or other person who is temporarily upon private property for some legitimate purpose.
§ 196-45. Operation for sport or recreation.
Other than for use by an owner or person in possession of private property, or their immediate family, no tract, trail, autocross or other area shall be set aside for the operation of motor vehicles for sport or recreation on private property without first complying with the zoning and subdivision ordinances of Lower Paxton Township.
§ 196-46. Violations and penalties.
Any person, firm or corporation charged with a violation of this article shall, upon summary conviction before a District Justice, be sentenced for each such violation to pay a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $300 and the costs of prosecution and, in default of the payment thereof, to undergo imprisonment for not more than 30 days.