(a) Generally. Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to protect the safety of any person or vehicle, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall:
(1) Stop, stand or park a vehicle:
A. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street, except that a pedal cycle may be parked as provided in § 3509(b)(2) of the Vehicle Code, being 75 Pa.C.S. § 3509(b)(2);
B. On a sidewalk, except that a pedal cycle may be parked as provided in § 3509(b)(2) of the Vehicle Code, being 75 Pa.C.S. § 3509(b)(2);
C. Within an intersection;
D. On a crosswalk;
E. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb, within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by official traffic control devices;
F. Alongside or opposite any street evacuation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;
G. Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel;
H. On any railroad tracks;
I. In the area between roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers; or
J. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
(2) Park a vehicle:
A. Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing; or
B. At any place where official signs prohibit parking.
(b) Unattended vehicles on private property. No person shall park or leave unattended a vehicle on private property without the consent of the owner or other person in control or possession of the property, except in the case of an emergency or disablement of the vehicle, in which case the operator shall arrange for the removal of the vehicle as soon as possible.
(c) Removal of vehicles. The owner or other person in charge or possession of any property on which a vehicle is parked or left unattended in violation of subsection (b) above may remove or have removed the vehicle at the reasonable expense of the owner of the vehicle.
(d) Restrictions by appropriate authorities. The State Department of Transportation on state designated highways, and local authorities on any highway within their boundaries, may, by the erection of official traffic control devices, prohibit, limit or restrict the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles on any highway where engineering and traffic studies indicate that stopping, standing or parking would constitute a safety hazard, or where the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles would unduly interfere with the free movement of traffic.
(e) Handicapped persons and disabled veterans.
(1) When a motor vehicle bearing registration plates licensed to a handicapped person or disabled veteran, as prescribed in the Vehicle Code, is being operated by or for the transportation of the handicapped person or disabled veteran, the driver shall be relieved of any liability for parking for a period of 60 minutes in excess of the legal parking period permitted by local authorities, except where local ordinances or police regulations provide for the accommodation of heavy traffic during morning, afternoon or evening hours.
(2) At the request of a handicapped person or disabled veteran, local authorities may erect on the highway, as close as possible to such handicapped person’s or disabled veteran’s place of residence, a sign indicating that the place is reserved for a handicapped person or disabled veteran, that no parking is allowed there by others and that any unauthorized person parking there shall be subject to a fine.
(3) Except for persons parking vehicles lawfully bearing registration plate or parking placards issued to a handicapped person or disabled veteran, no person shall park a vehicle on public or private property reserved for a handicapped person or disabled veteran, which property has been so posted in accordance with Department of Transportation regulations.
(Ord. 620, passed 5-20-1987; Ord. 812, passed 12-17-2003)