410.01 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
(a) Words and phrases, when used in this Traffic Code, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in The Vehicle Code of Pennsylvania, as now in force, or as hereafter amended, enacted or re-enacted, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
(b) The term “commercial vehicle,” as used in this Traffic Code, shall mean and include any motor vehicle, except passenger cars, motorcycles and pick-up trucks.
(c) The term “legal holidays,” as used in this Traffic Code, shall mean and include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas.
410.02 MANNER OF ADOPTING PERMANENT TRAFFIC AND PARKING REGULATIONS
All traffic and parking regulations of a permanent nature shall be enacted as ordinances or as parts of ordinances or as amendments to ordinances of the Township of Lawrence Park.
410.03 TEMPORARY AND EMERGENCY REGULATIONS
(a) The Board of Commissioners shall have the following powers to regulate traffic and parking temporarily and in time of emergency:
(1) In the case of fire, flood, storm, or other emergency, to establish temporary traffic and/or parking regulations.
(2) 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 seventy-two hours.
(b) Such temporary and emergency regulations shall be enforced by the Police Department in the same manner as permanent regulations.
(c) No person shall operate or park a vehicle or tractor in violation of any such regulations, or move, remove, destroy, injure or deface any sign or marking erected, posted, or made to give notice of any such regulation.
410.04 EXPERIMENTAL REGULATIONS
(a) The Board of Commissioners may, from time to time, designate places upon and along the highways in the Township where, for a period of not more than ninety 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 just as if they had been specified in this Traffic Code.
(b) No person shall operate or park a vehicle or tractor in violation of any such regulation, prohibition, or restriction, and no person shall move, remove, destroy or deface any sign or marking erected, posted, or made by authority of this section.
(c) The purpose of this section is to allow for the test and experimental determination of the feasibility and desirability of permanent changes in the ordinances of the Township relative to traffic and parking.
410.05 AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICERS
The peace officers of the Township are hereby given authority to direct traffic on the highways of the Township and at intersections thereof.
410.06 PROVISIONS TO BE A CONTINUATION OF PRIOR REGULATIONS
The provisions of this Traffic Code, so far as they are the same as those of ordinances and regulations in force immediately prior to the enactment of this Traffic Code, are intended as a continuation of such ordinances and regulations and not as new enactments. The provisions of this Traffic Code shall not affect any act done or liability incurred, nor shall they affect any suit or prosecution pending or to be instituted to enforce any repealed ordinances or regulations.
410.07 SPEED-TIMING DEVICES
(a) Electronic speed-timing devices, including “Speed-Chek,” “E.S.P.” and “Vascar,” as well as any other electrical or electronic speed-timing devices duly approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are authorized for use within Lawrence Park Township by the Lawrence Park Township police officers for the purpose of enforcing the various traffic laws in Lawrence Park Township as established by The Vehicle Code of Pennsylvania and/or duly enacted Lawrence Park Township ordinances.
(b) The Lawrence Park Township Police Department and its officers are authorized to operate and use such approved electronic speed-timing devices, and results obtained from such devices may be used in any judicial proceedings to establish the speed of motor vehicles on public roads and highways within Lawrence Park Township.
410.08 IMPOUNDING OF VEHICLES
(a) Authority to Remove and Impound. The Chief of Police of the Township is hereby authorized to remove and impound, or to order the removal and impounding of, any vehicle parked on any of the streets, highways, or public property in the Township in violation of any provision of the law or of any ordinance of the Township, provided that no such vehicle shall be removed or impounded except in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(b) Approved Storage Garages Designated. Garages will be designated as approved storage garages, as pounds for the storage of such impounded vehicles, by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
(c) Garages to be Insured. Every such approved storage garage or pound shall have insurance in the amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for indemnifying the owner of every such impounded vehicle against the loss thereof, or injury or damage thereto, while in the custody of the poundkeeper.
(d) Towing and Storage Charges. Uniform towing and storage charges shall be established by resolution of the Board of Commissioners from time to time.
(e) Notification and Removal and Impounding. Within twelve hours from the time of removal of any vehicle under authority granted by this section, notice of the fact that such vehicle has been impounded shall be sent by the Chief of Police of the Township to the owner of record of such vehicle. Such notice shall designate the place from which such vehicle was removed, the reason for its removal and impounding, and the pound in which it shall have been impounded.
(f) Records of Vehicles Removed and Impounded. The Chief of Police shall keep a record of all vehicles impounded and shall be able at all reasonable times to furnish the owners or agents of the owners thereof with information as to the place of storage of such vehicle.
(g) Owner or Operator of Vehicle Remains Liable for Fine or Penalty. The payment of towing and storage charges authorized by this section shall not operate to relieve the owner or operator of any vehicle from liability for any fine or penalty for violation of any law or ordinance an account of which such vehicle was removed and impounded.
410.09 VIOLATIONS; PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS
Unless otherwise provided in this Traffic Code:
(a) Upon a plea and proof that a person is unable to pay any fine and costs imposed under this Traffic Code, a court may, in accordance with 42 PaC.S. Sec. 9758 (relating to fine), order payment of the fine and costs in installments and shall fix the amounts, times and manner of payment.
(b) Any person who does not comply with an order entered under subsection (a) hereof may be imprisoned for a number of days equal to one day for each forty dollars ($40.00) of the unpaid balance of the fine and costs.
(c) Any person charged with a violation of any provision of this Traffic Code for which payment of a prescribed fine may be made, may pay such sum in the manner prescribed on the issued traffic ticket. Such payment shall be deemed a plea of guilty, waiver of court appearance, and acknowledgement of conviction of the alleged offense and may be accepted in full satisfaction of the prescribed penalty for such alleged violation. Payment of the prescribed fine need not be accepted when laws prescribe that a certain number of such offense shall require court appearance.
410.99 PENALTY; WAIVER
(a) Any person who shall operate or park a vehicle or tractor in violation of any regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 410.03, 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 liable to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere in this Traffic Code 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 Traffic Code, to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and costs of prosecution, or, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for one day for each ten dollars ($10.00) of such fine and costs.
(b) Any person who shall violate any provision of Section 410.04 shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty set forth in the law or elsewhere in this Traffic Code 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 Traffic Code, to a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and costs of prosecution, or, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for one day for each ten dollars ($10.00) of such fine and costs.