[Added 2-12-2007 by Ord. No. 14-2007; amended 9-10-2007 by Ord. No. 68-2007; 1-28-2008 by Ord. No. 10-2008; 8-24-2009 by Ord. No. 47-2009; 8-26-2013 by Ord. No. 35-2013; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 18-2015; 11-9-2015 by Ord. No. 60-2015; and 1-4-2021 by Ord. 98-2020]
A. It shall be unlawful for a person to park, or allow to remain parked for more than one hour any commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or more in plain view from the public right-of-way. Tow trucks designated medium or heavy duty, car carriers and low boy trailers are similarly prohibited. This restriction applies City-wide and includes without limitation school buses, construction equipment, trucks, trailers, or tractors, whether attached or unattached unless the vehicle is involved in the actual delivery, pick up of goods, supplies, or merchandise from any building, residence or business, or the vehicle is used to perform services for any permitted residential or commercial project in that block.
B. Recreational vehicles.
(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to park for more than 24 hours in plain view from the public right-of-way any attached or unattached motorized boat, trailer, camping trailer, or vehicle rated Department of Transportation Class 5 or greater in the following zoning districts:
(a) R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3 - Residential Districts.
(b) Commercial Residential Districts - C-R.
(c) Commercial Neighborhood Districts - C-N.
(d) Residential Professional Office - R-PO.
(e) Preservation.
(2) Mobile homes and recreational vehicles designed or adapted for use as a mobile dwelling, including a vehicle equipped with a truck-camper, with a maximum length of 24 feet and a maximum weight that does not exceed 12,000 GVW may, however, park on private property, in accordance with § 600-1602A and B of Chapter 600, Zoning.
(3) Each household may apply to the Department of Police, Traffic Enforcement Office, for no more than two temporary recreational vehicle parking permits that will allow the recreational vehicle to be parked at the property for longer than 24 hours. Barring a special exception, the cost of the permit shall be set at $50, as per Chapter 212, § 212-145, be visibly displayed on the dashboard at all times the vehicle is not in use, and shall last for a period of time as determined by the Chief of Police, or his designee.
C. Enforcement. Prior to the issuance of the citation and fine, notification of this law and a warning of the penalties imposed upon violation shall be posted on the vehicle one time or a copy issued to the owner or tenant of the property in areas that are not posted with signage. Such warning shall be properly recorded in the Police Department, Traffic Enforcement Office, by the issuing enforcement official. If the vehicle is not removed within 48 hours, per Subsection E below, the citing officer may issue a citation or exercise discretion to tow the vehicle to alleviate a safety or hazard concern.
D. Exemptions. Pickup trucks classed as 4B and lower by PennDOT (see attached schedule)
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and an antique or classic motor vehicle, or an implement of husbandry are exempted from this section.
E. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section shall be cited and fined as set forth in the schedule below. At the discretion of the citing officer, the vehicle(s) located in the public right-of-way may be subject to tow after the second citation in any calendar year.
Code Section | Violation | Violation Amount | 10-day penalty | 30 day penalty |
564-105 | 48 hour parking restriction on truck, trailer or mobile home | $100 | $50 | $50 |
564-105A. | Truck trailers tractors over one hour | $110 | $55 | $55 |
F. The Department of Police, Property Maintenance Division and Reading Parking Authority are hereby provided with enforcement authority on public and private property for this section.
3. Editor's Note: The TRAA Vehicle Identification Guide is included as an attachment to this chapter.