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Reading Overview
Reading, PA Code of Ordinances
READING, PA CODE OF ORDINANCES
PREFACE
Chapter C HOME RULE CHARTER
Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 5 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Chapter 14 AUTHORITIES
Chapter 23 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
Chapter 36 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES
Chapter 51 INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Chapter 62 PENSIONS
Chapter 70 PERSONNEL
Chapter 77 POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chapter 91 SALARIES AND COMPENSATION
Chapter 120 ALARM SYSTEMS
Chapter 127 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Chapter 141 ANIMALS
Chapter 166 CABLE TELEVISION
Chapter 173 COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY CODE
Chapter 180 CONSTRUCTION CODES
Chapter 185 CONVERSION THERAPY
Chapter 188 CURFEW
Chapter 201 ELECTRIC SERVICE
Chapter 212 FEES
Chapter 219 FIREARMS
Chapter 225 FIREWORKS
Chapter 231 FIRE INSURANCE PROCEEDS
Chapter 237 FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
Chapter 251 FOOD CODE
Chapter 272 GRAFFITI
Chapter 288 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 295 HISTORICAL AND CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
Chapter 302 HOUSE NUMBERING
Chapter 308 HOUSING
Chapter 317 INVASIVE PLANTS AND NOXIOUS WEEDS
Chapter 325 LAW ENFORCEMENT
Chapter 328 LEAD POISONING PREVENTION
Chapter 332 LIBRARY
Chapter 339 LICENSES AND PERMITS
Chapter 346 LITTER AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL
Chapter 353 LOITERING AND PANHANDLING
Chapter 364 MASSAGE THERAPISTS
Chapter 378 MUNICIPAL CLAIMS AND LIENS
Chapter 387 NOISE
Chapter 396 PARKS AND RECREATION
Chapter 403 PAWNBROKERS
Chapter 410 PEDDLING AND SOLICITING
Chapter 424 POLES
Chapter 431 PROPERTY SALES
Chapter 433 PUBLIC ART
Chapter 438 RAIN BARRELS
Chapter 442 RECORDS, PUBLIC ACCESS
Chapter 453 SALES
Chapter 460 SCRAP METAL DEALERS
Chapter 467 SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Chapter 473 SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
Chapter 479 SIDEWALK CAFES
Chapter 485 SIGNS
Chapter 496 SOLID WASTE
Chapter 502 STORAGE FACILITIES
Chapter 505 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Chapter 508 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter 515 SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 521 SUSTAINABILITY
Chapter 536 TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter 540 TATTOO AND PIERCING ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 543 TAX ABATEMENTS
Chapter 546 TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
Chapter 549 TAXATION
Chapter 555 TREES
Chapter 564 VEHICLE NUISANCES, STORAGE OF
Chapter 570 VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS
Chapter 576 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 583 VENDING MACHINES
Chapter 600 ZONING
Chapter A610 ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY
Chapter A611 BOND ISSUES AND LOANS
Chapter A612 FRANCHISE AND SERVICES
Chapter A613 GOVERNMENTAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Chapter A614 PLAN APPROVAL
Chapter A615 PUBLIC PROPERTY
Chapter A616 SEWERS
Chapter A617 STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Chapter A618 WATER
Chapter A619 ZONING; PRIOR ORDINANCES
Chapter DT DERIVATION TABLE
Chapter DL DISPOSITION LIST
Chapter 576
VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Part 1
General Provisions
A   General Regulations
§ 576-101.   Definitions and interpretations.
§ 576-102.   Manner of adopting permanent traffic and parking regulations.
§ 576-103.   Continuation of existing regulations.
§ 576-104.   Temporary and emergency regulations.
§ 576-105.   Experimental regulations.
§ 576-106.   Restrictions during construction, maintenance or special events.
§ 576-107.   Use of streets by processions and assemblages.
§ 576-108.   Authority of police officers.
§ 576-109.   Authorization for use of speed timing devices.
Part 2
Traffic
A   Regulations
§ 576-201.   Maximum speed limits established on certain streets.
§ 576-202.   Maximum speed limits established on certain bridges and elevated structures.
§ 576-203.   Maximum speed limits established for certain vehicles on hazardous grades.
§ 576-204.   Maximum speed limits established in parks.
§ 576-205.   Traffic signals at certain locations.
§ 576-206.   Intersections where turn prohibited on red signal.
§ 576-207.   One-way roadways established.
§ 576-208.   Turning at certain intersections prohibited or restricted.
§ 576-209.   Right turns only permitted at certain intersections.
§ 576-210.   U-turns prohibited at certain locations.
§ 576-211.   No-passing zones established.
§ 576-212.   Through highways established.
§ 576-213.   Stop intersections established.
§ 576-214.   Yield intersections established.
§ 576-215.   Operation of motor vehicles restricted on public lands.
§ 576-216.   Rotary traffic islands established.
§ 576-217.   Play highways established and authorized.
§ 576-218.   Snowmobile roads designated.
§ 576-219.   Two-way traffic pattern established.
Part 3
Size, Weight and Type of Vehicle and Load
A   Restrictions
§ 576-301.   Vehicle weight limits established on certain streets and bridges.
§ 576-302.   Restrictions on size of vehicles on certain streets and bridges.
§ 576-303.   Restrictions as to weight and size of vehicles on certain streets and bridges.
§ 576-304.   Truck traffic restricted on certain streets.
Part 4
Stopping and Parking
A   Regulations
§ 576-401.   Parking in prohibited areas.
§ 576-402.   Parking limited in designated areas.
§ 576-403.   Parking prohibited in specific areas.
§ 576-404.   Blocking garage and rear yard parking area entrance.
§ 576-405.   Greasing or repair work.
§ 576-406.   (Reserved)
§ 576-407.   Storage of vehicles on streets.
§ 576-408.   Parking of inoperable or illegally registered vehicles.
§ 576-409.   Parking prohibited on private property.
§ 576-410.   Parking prohibited at handicapped areas.
§ 576-411.   Parking, stopping, standing or drifting prohibited in a loading zone or timed zone.
§ 576-412.   (Reserved)
§ 576-413.   (Reserved)
§ 576-414.   Nonpayment of daily parking fee notice.
§ 576-415.   Parking violations subject to immediate towing.
§ 576-416.   Notice of violation; waiver.
§ 576-417.   Residential permit parking.
§ 576-418.   Hazardous vehicles.
§ 576-419.   Daily parking permits.
§ 576-420.   Parking against traffic flow.
Part 5
Parking Meters or Kiosks
A   Regulations
§ 576-501.   Definitions.
§ 576-502.   Parking zones established; traffic control maps.
§ 576-503.   Hours of enforcement and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excepted.
§ 576-504.   (Reserved)
§ 576-505.   Marking of spaces.
§ 576-506.   Meter signals and kiosk receipts.
§ 576-507.   Manner of parking.
§ 576-508.   Deposit of proper payments in parking zone.
§ 576-509.   No parking beyond indicated time.
§ 576-510.   Use of parking meter or kiosk funds.
§ 576-511.   Slugs prohibited.
§ 576-512.   Injuring or defacing meters.
§ 576-513.   Exceptions.
§ 576-514.   Enforcement.
§ 576-515.   Duty of police and authorized agents.
§ 576-516.   Verification of parking meters or kiosks.
§ 576-517.   Notice of violation; violations and penalties; waiver.
§ 576-518.   Parking ticket appeal process.
Part 6
Daytime Parking Restrictions
A   Short-Term Daytime Parking Restrictions
§ 576-601.   Findings and purpose.
§ 576-602.   Daytime parking restrictions.
§ 576-603.   Notice of violation; violations and penalties; waivers.
Part 7
Commercial Contractor Parking
A   Commercial Contractor Parking Permit and Daily Parking Permit
§ 576-701.   Purpose.
§ 576-702.   Criteria for application.
§ 576-703.   Display of permit.
§ 576-704.   Permit parking exemption.
§ 576-705.   Daily parking permits.
§ 576-706.   Permit fees.
§ 576-707.   Revocation of permit.
§ 576-708.   Violations and penalties.
Part 8
Impounding and Immobilization of Vehicles
A   Removal and Impoundment of Illegally Parked Vehicles
§ 576-801.   Applicability and scope.
§ 576-802.   Authority to remove and impound.
§ 576-803   Authority to remove and impound unattended vehicles on private property by any privately operated towing businesses operating within the City of Reading as per 75 Pa C.S. § 3353.3.b.
§ 576-803.1.   Tow-away zones designated.
§ 576-804.   Designation of approved storage garages; bonding; towing and storage.
§ 576-805.   Payment of towing and storage charges.
§ 576-806.   Reclamation costs.
§ 576-807.   Records of vehicles removed and impounded.
§ 576-808.   Restrictions upon removal of vehicles.
§ 576-809.   Violations and penalties.
§ 576-810.   Reports and disposition of unclaimed vehicles.
B   Immobilization of Motor Vehicles
§ 576-811.   Definitions.
§ 576-812.   Basis for immobilization.
§ 576-813.   (Reserved)
§ 576-814.   Release of immobilized vehicle.
§ 576-815.   Towing and storage of immobilized vehicles.
§ 576-816.   Immobilization fee.
§ 576-817.   Tampering with immobilization device prohibited.
§ 576-818.   Implementation and enforcement.
§ 576-819.   Right to hearing not waived.
C   Selection of Towing Contractors
§ 576-821.   Police to contact approved towing contractors; exceptions.
§ 576-822.   Definitions.
§ 576-823.   Selection of towing contractors.
§ 576-824.   Qualifications of tower.
§ 576-825.   Duties of towers.
§ 576-826.   Towing service charges.
§ 576-827.   Towing zones.
§ 576-828.   Nonliability of City for services.
§ 576-829.   Investigation of applicants and facilities.
§ 576-830.   Right of inspection.
§ 576-831.   Promulgation of regulations and penalties.
§ 576-832.   Prohibited behavior.
§ 576-833.   Compliance and responsibility.
§ 576-834.   Complaint procedure.
§ 576-835.   Violations and penalties.
Part 9
Snow and Ice Emergency
A   Snow and Ice Emergency Regulations
§ 576-901.   Definitions.
§ 576-902.   Declaration of snow emergency.
§ 576-903.   Declaration of prohibited parking for snow removal or inclement weather.
§ 576-904.   Moving, impounding and returning vehicles.
§ 576-905.   Signs to mark snow emergency routes.
§ 576-906.   Official snow emergency routes.
§ 576-907.   Snow removal operations.
§ 576-908.   Violations and penalties.
Part 10
Pedalcycles and Nonmotorized Vehicles
A   Regulations
§ 576-1001.   Riding and parking of pedalcycles on sidewalks along certain streets prohibited.
§ 576-1002.   Restrictions on use of pushcarts.
§ 576-1003.   Skates, skateboards, coasters, sleds and other toy vehicles.
Part 11
Pedestrians
A   Regulations
§ 576-1101.   Pedestrians to obey traffic- control signs.
§ 576-1102.   Pedestrian-control signal locations established.
§ 576-1103.   Locations where pedestrian crossing in unmarked crosswalks restricted.
§ 576-1104.   Locations where pedestrians may cross only in crosswalk.
§ 576-1105.   Pedestrians only.
§ 576-1106.   Violations and penalties.
Part 12
Parades, Special Events, and Public Gatherings
A   Parades, Special Events, and Public Gatherings
§ 576-1201.   Short title.
§ 576-1202.   Definitions.
§ 576-1203.   Permit required.
§ 576-1204.   Application (fees).
§ 576-1205.   Fees, time limit and cost of event.
§ 576-1206.   Changes to application.
§ 576-1207.   Date of permit issued.
§ 576-1208.   Conditions for issuance of permit, where applicable.
§ 576-1209.   Denial or revocation of permit.
§ 576-1210.   Notice of decision.
§ 576-1211.   Street activity and route restrictions.
§ 576-1212.   Temporary signs for events.
§ 576-1213.   Appeal procedure.
§ 576-1214.   Alternative permit.
§ 576-1215.   Notice to City and other officials.
§ 576-1216.   Duties of permittee.
§ 576-1217.   Public conduct during event.
§ 576-1218.   Inspections.
§ 576-1219.   Animal waste.
§ 576-1220.   Insurance required to conduct special event or recreation facility/site reservation event involving City gymnasium rentals.
§ 576-1221.   Indemnification.
§ 576-1222.   Conditions for premises after event.
§ 576-1223.   Violations and penalties.
Part 13
Motorized Devices and All-Terrain Vehicles
A   Use and Operation
§ 576-1301.   Operation of motorized devices is restricted.
§ 576-1302.   Definitions.
§ 576-1303.   Registration and title.
§ 576-1304.   Operation and use.
§ 576-1305.   Towing and storage.
§ 576-1306.   Enforcement by notice of violation and forfeiture.
§ 576-1307.   Vehicle seized prior to the effective date of this Part.
Part 14
Handicapped Parking Regulations
A   Regulations
§ 576-1401.   Definitions.
§ 576-1402.   Application for handicapped parking space.
§ 576-1403.   Review process and criteria.
§ 576-1404.   Notice to adjacent property owner.
§ 576-1405.   Renewals.
§ 576-1406.   Changes in conditions.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Reading 5-29-2001 by Ord. No. 14-2001 (Ch. 15 of the 2001 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
 
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animal control — See Ch. 141, Part 2.
Noise — See Ch. 387.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 508.
Storage of vehicle nuisances — See Ch. 564.
Vehicle repair shops — See Ch. 570.
STATE LAW REFERENCES
Delegation of powers authorized — See Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 6109(f).
Prohibited parking areas — See Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3353 et seq.
Power to establish — See Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 6109 et seq.
Removal and storage — See Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3352.
Removal of vehicle by or at discretion of police — See Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3352.
Authorization of salvers — See Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 7301.