Chapter 15
Motor Vehicles and Traffic

Part 1
General Regulations

§ 15-101.   General Rule

§ 15-102.   Definitions and Interpretations

§ 15-103.   Authority of Police Officers

§ 15-104.   Official Traffic Signs, Signals and Markings

§ 15-105.   Authorization of the Use of Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Motor Vehicle Speed Timing Devices

§ 15-106.   Prosecution under Local Ordinance Is Superseded by the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code

§ 15-107.   Manner of Adopting Permanent Traffic and Parking Regulations

§ 15-108.   Temporary and Emergency Regulations

§ 15-109.   Experimental Regulations

§ 15-110.   Traffic on Streets Closed or Restricted for Construction, Maintenance or Special Events

§ 15-111.   Use of Streets by Processions and Assemblages

Part 2
Traffic Regulations

§ 15-201.   Maximum Speed Limits Established

§ 15-202.   Maximum Speed Limits Established on Certain Bridges and Elevated Structures

§ 15-203.   Maximum Speed Limits Established for Certain Vehicles on Hazardous Grades

§ 15-204.   Maximum Speed Limits Established in Parks

§ 15-205.   Operation of Certain Vehicles Prohibited in Parks

§ 15-206.   Traffic Signals at Certain Locations

§ 15-207.   Intersections Where Turns Prohibited on Red Signal

§ 15-208.   One-Way Streets Established

§ 15-209.   Rotary Traffic Islands Established

§ 15-210.   Turning at Certain Intersections Prohibited or Restricted

§ 15-211.   Movement Other than Right Turn at Intersections

§ 15-212.   Right Turn Only Permitted at Certain Intersections

§ 15-213.   U-Turns Prohibited at Certain Locations

§ 15-214.   Passing Zones Established

§ 15-215.   Through Highways Established

§ 15-216.   Stop Intersections Established

§ 15-217.   Yield Intersections Established

§ 15-218.   Play Highways Established and Authorized

§ 15-219.   Snowmobile and ATV Roads Designated

§ 15-220.   Skate, Coasters, Sleds and Other Toy Vehicles

§ 15-221.   Through Traffic Prohibited at Certain Locations

§ 15-222.   Use of Private or Public Property to Avoid Traffic Control Device

Part 3
Restrictions on Size, Weight and Type of Vehicles and Loads

§ 15-301.   General Rule

§ 15-302.   Vehicle Weight Limits Established on Certain Streets and Bridges

§ 15-303.   Truck Traffic Restricted on Certain Roads and Streets

§ 15-304.   Parking, Stopping, Standing of Certain Vehicles Prohibited

§ 15-305.   Vehicle Size Restrictions

§ 15-306.   Restriction of Truck Traffic and Limits on Vehicle Weight on Posted Ways

Part 4
Stopping, Standing and Parking

§ 15-401.   Parking Prohibited at All Times in Certain Locations

§ 15-402.   Parking Prohibited in Certain Locations Certain Days and Hours

§ 15-403.   Standing and Parking

§ 15-404.   Special Purpose Parking Zones Established; Parking Otherwise Prohibited

§ 15-405.   Vehicles to Be Parked in Marked Places

§ 15-406.   Angle Parking Required on Parts of Certain Streets

§ 15-407.   Operation of Motor Vehicle on Sidewalks

§ 15-408.   Penalty for Violation of Part

Part 5
Miscellaneous Provisions

§ 15-501.   Pedestrians to Obey Traffic Control Signs

§ 15-502.   Pedestrians Crossing at Other than Marked Crossings

§ 15-503.   Duties and Responsibilities of Pedalcycle Riders

§ 15-504.   Snow or Ice Emergency

§ 15-505.   Depositing Snow on Roadway

Part 6
Interpretation and Repeal

§ 15-601.   Provisions to Be a Continuation of Existing Regulations

Part 7
Commercial Traffic Route Restriction and Weight Limits

§ 15-701.   Weight Limits

§ 15-702.   Erection of Signs

§ 15-703.   Determination of Weight

§ 15-704.   Exemption from this Part

§ 15-705.   Description of Commercial Routes

§ 15-706.   Penalty

Part 8
Prohibition on the Use of Engine Brakes Commonly Known as “Jake Brake”

§ 15-801.   Operation of an Engine Brake

§ 15-802.   Excessive Noise

§ 15-803.   Limited to Locations

§ 15-804.   Sign

§ 15-805.   Not Applied to Emergency Driving Situations

§ 15-806.   Penalties

Part 9
Handicapped Parking

§ 15-901.   Legislative Intent

§ 15-902.   Definitions

§ 15-903.   Application Procedure

§ 15-904.   General Provisions

§ 15-905.   Penalties

§ 15-906.   Location

Part 1 General Regulations

§ 15-101. General Rule .

   Except as provided, the provisions of this Chapter relating to the operation, parking and movement or restrictions of vehicles, pedalcycles and pedestrians, refer exclusively to the operation, parking and movement or restrictions of vehicles, pedalcycles and pedestrians upon highways and streets within the boundaries of Plains Township, except where a specific place is specifically referred to in a particular Section or provision of this Chapter.

(Ord. 1993-12, 12/30/1993, § 101)

§ 15-102. Definitions and Interpretations .

   1.   Words and phrases, when used in this Chapter, except for Sections and Parts to which different or additional definitions apply, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, the Act of June 17, 1976, P.L. 162, No. 81, 75 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 101 et seq., as amended, except that, in this Chapter, the word “street” may be used interchangeably with the word “highway” and “trafficway” and shall have the same meaning as the word “highway” and “trafficway” as defined in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.

   Legal holiday–including, but not be limited to: New Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

   2.   In this Chapter, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the masculine shall include the feminine.

   3.   Although the streets in Plains Township run generally in a southeast-southwest and a northwest-northeast direction, for the purpose of this Chapter, Interstate 81 (I-81) and the streets running parallel or generally parallel to I-81 shall be deemed to run in a north-south direction, and the streets that are perpendicular or generally perpendicular to I-81 shall be deemed to run in an east-west direction.

(Ord. 1993-12, 12/30/1993, § 102)