ARTICLE 531

Parking Generally

531.01 Prohibitions In Specified Places.
531.02 Additional Parking Regulations.
531.03 Handicapped Persons And Disabled Veterans.
531.04 Parking Trucks And Trailers.
531.05 Displaying Vehicles For Sale.
531.06 Greasing And Repairing.
531.07 Parking In Tow-Away Zones.
531.08 Blocking Garages.
531.09 Zone Overtime.
531.10 Unattended Vehicles On Private Property.
531.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

Prohibited parking places - See Vehicle Code §3353
Additional regulations - See Vehicle Code §3354
Power to regulate - See Vehicle Code §6109(a)(1)
Meters - See TRAF. Art. 533
Impounding - See TRAF. Art. 535
Taxi and bus parking - See TRAF. Art. 540

531.01 PROHIBITIONS IN SPECIFIED PLACES.

General Rule. 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:

(a) Stop, stand or park a vehicle:

(1) On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street.

(2) On a sidewalk.

(3) Within an intersection.

(4) On a crosswalk.

(5) Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb within thirty 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.

(6) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction
when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.

(7) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or
within a highway tunnel.

(8) On any railroad tracks.

(9) In the area between roadways of a divided highway, including
crossovers.

(10) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.

(b) Stand or park any vehicle:

(1) In front of a public or private driveway.

(2) Within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant.

(3) Within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.

(4) Within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop
sign, yield sign or traffic control signal located at the side of a
roadway.

(5) Within twenty feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station or,
when properly sign posted, on the side of a street opposite the
entrance to any fire station within seventy-five feet of the entrance.

(6) Where the vehicle would prevent the free movement of a streetcar.

(7) On a limited access highway unless authorized by official
traffic control devices.

(8) At any place where official signs prohibit standing.

(c) Park a vehicle:

(1) Within fifty feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.

(2) At any place where official signs prohibit parking.

(d) No person shall park or leave on the streets, highway or public property of the City or Bethlehem Parking Authority any mechanically inoperable vehicles or vehicles without current registration plates or current inspection stickers.

(e) No person shall park or leave on the streets, highways or public property of the City or Bethlehem Parking Authority any vehicle without a current inspection sticker unless the vehicle is legally parked in front of, or in close proximity to, an official Pennsylvania State Inspection Station which identifies said vehicle by work order specifying a state inspection will be performed within twenty-four (24) hours. Additional work orders beyond the initial twenty-four hour period are prohibited.

(Ord. 2623 §14. Passed 10/3/78; Ord. 4447. Passed 11/7/07.)

531.02 ADDITIONAL PARKING REGULATIONS.

(a) Two-way Highways. Except as otherwise provided in this section, every vehicle standing or parked upon a two-way highway shall be positioned parallel to and with the right-hand wheels within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or, in the absence of a curb, as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder.

(b) One-way Highways. Except as otherwise provided in this section,
every vehicle standing or parked upon a one-way highway shall be positioned parallel to the curb or edge of the highway in the direction of authorized traffic movement with its right-hand wheels within twelve inches of the right-hand curb, or in the absence of a curb, as close as practicable to the right edge of the right-hand shoulder, or with its left-hand wheels within twelve inches of the left-hand curb, or in the absence of a curb, as close as practicable to the left edge of the left-hand shoulder.

(c) Angle Parking. Local authorities may permit angle parking on any highway after an engineering and traffic study has determined that the highway is of sufficient width to permit angle parking without interfering with the free movement of traffic, except that on a State-designated highway prior approval of the State Department of Transportation shall also be obtained. (Ord. 2623 §15. Passed 10/3/78.)

531.03 HANDICAPPED PERSONS AND DISABLED VETERANS.

(a) When a motor vehicle bearing registration plates issued to handicapped persons or disabled veterans as prescribed in the State 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 sixty 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 and evening hours.

(b) At the request of any handicapped person or severely disabled veteran, the Bethlehem Parking Authority may erect on the highway, as close as possible to their place of residence, a sign or signs indicating that the place is reserved for a handicapped person or severely disabled veteran, that no parking is allowed there by others, and that any unauthorized person parking there shall be subject to a fine. (Ord. 2623. Passed 10/3/78; Ord. 3402. Passed 3/5/91.)

(c) At the request of any handicapped person or severely disabled veteran for whom a handicap sign has been erected pursuant to this ordinance, the Bethlehem Parking Authority may issue to that person a numbered handicap permit and the handicap sign shall be numbered to correspond with the permit. The numbered space may only be occupied by the vehicle bearing the corresponding numbered permit. The Bethlehem Parking Authority shall erect a sign on or near the handicap sign indicating the restricted nature of the handicap parking space.

(d) Except for persons parking vehicles lawfully bearing a handicapped or severely disabled veteran registration plate or displaying a handicapped or severely disabled veteran parking placard when such vehicle is being operated by or for the transportation of a handicapped person or severely disabled veteran, no person shall park a vehicle on public or private property reserved for a handicapped person, a severely disabled veteran, or a side-lift vehicle, which property has been posted in accordance with this ordinance. (Ord. 4134. Passed 7/16/2002.)

(Ord. 3402. Passed 3/5/91; Ord. 3929. Passed 1/5/99.)

531.04 PARKING TRUCKS AND TRAILERS.

(a) No person shall park a truck trailer or trailer upon any street without having attached thereto a means of mechanical traction so constructed or designed for the purpose of pulling or drawing such trailer.

(b) No person shall stand or park a truck tractor, truck tractor and trailer or tri-axle dump truck upon any street that lies within a residential, institutional or commercial zone of the City of Bethlehem, except as provided in Section (d) below. For the purposes of this Article, such area shall include all streets that either lie within or are abutting these zones, as defined by the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Bethlehem. Any other vehicle that is not a truck tractor, truck tractor and trailer or tri-axle dump truck, but is twenty (20) feet or more in length shall not stand or park on any street that lies within a residential, institutional or commercial zone of the City of Bethlehem for more than seventy-two (72) hours; after seventy-two (72) hours said vehicle must be removed from the unit block upon which it stood or was parked, for a minimum of two (2) hours.

(c) The parking of any truck tractor, truck tractor and trailer or tri-axle dump truck within areas that are industrially zoned, as defined by the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Bethlehem, is hereby specifically authorized for the purposes of this Article; such areas shall include only those streets lying wholly within that zone.

(d) Nothing in this Article shall be intended to prohibit the parking of any truck tractor, truck tractor and trailer or tri-axle dump truck for the purpose of the delivery or pick-up of merchandise, material, or goods from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.,
provided that:

(1) the parking of said vehicle shall terminate immediately upon
conclusion of the delivery or pick-up of merchandise, material or goods; and

(2) such parking shall be limited to a period of no longer than one hour.

(e) Nothing in this Article shall be intended to prohibit the parking of any vehicle specifically permitted by the City of Bethlehem Police Department, or to vehicles responding to emergencies, or to any vehicle involved in the moving of household goods, provided that a permit has previously been issued by the City

pursuant to Article 309.01 of the City of Bethlehem Ordinances for the moving of household goods.

(f) The City of Bethlehem Police Department shall place notification on the windshield of vehicles of twenty (20) feet or more in length suspected to be in violation, indicating that if the vehicle is not moved, a parking violation will occur
as set forth in Section 531.99(b)(5). The notification requirement set forth herein shall not be required, and shall not apply to violations by truck tractors, truck tractors and trailers or tri-axle dump trucks. (Ord. 3996. Passed 3/7/00.)

(Ord. 3671. Passed 2/21/95; Ord. 3929. Passed 1/5/99.)

531.05 DISPLAYING VEHICLES FOR SALE.

No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of displaying such vehicle for sale. (Ord. 2623 §18. Passed 10/3/78.)

531.06 GREASING AND REPAIRING.

No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway for the principal purpose of greasing or repairing such vehicle, except repairs necessitated by an emergency. (Ord. 2623 §19. Passed 10/3/78.)

531.07 PARKING IN TOW-AWAY ZONES.

No person shall park a vehicle in any area designated as a "Tow-Away Zone" during times prohibited by the Police Department. (Ord. 2432 §1. Passed 7/16/74.)

531.08 BLOCKING GARAGES.

No person shall park a vehicle at any time in front of, opposite to or in such a position as to block entrance to or exit by a vehicle from a garage. (Ord. 2623 §20. Passed 10/3/78.)

531.09 ZONE OVERTIME.

(a) The Bethlehem Parking Authority is empowered to establish vehicular TIME ZONE AREAS. The Bethlehem Parking Authority shall designate by means
of appropriate signs the location of such time zone areas, and the time period during
which a vehicle may be parked in any such zoned area.

(b) No vehicle shall be parked in any such zoned area in excess of the time period designated.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, any vehicle caused to be moved or reparked within the same unit block shall be deemed not to have been removed and shall thereby be subject to penalty.

(d) A vehicle shall be deemed to have been removed from a unit block only if it has been continuously absent from said unit block for a period in excess of two (2) hours. (Ord. 3618. Passed 6/7/94.)

531.10 UNATTENDED VEHICLES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

(a) 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 emergency or disablement of the vehicle, in which case the operator shall arrange for the removal of the vehicle as soon as possible.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to private parking lots unless such lots are posted to notify the public of any parking restrictions and the operator of the vehicle violates such posted restrictions. For the purpose of this section "private parking lot" means a parking lot open to the public or used for parking without charge; or a parking lot used for parking with charge.

(c) The owner or other person in charge or possession of any property on

which a vehicle is parked or left unattended in violation of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) may remove or have removed the vehicle at the reasonable expense of the owner of the vehicle. Such person who removes a vehicle left parked or unattended in violation of the provisions of this section shall have a lien against the vehicle, in the amount of the reasonable value of the costs of removing the vehicle. (Ord. 3692. Passed 6/20/95.)

531.99 PENALTY

(a) Notice of Parking Violations. Any police officer or Bethlehem Parking Authority enforcement officer or duly authorized City employee shall place on a vehicle operated in violation of any provision of Article 531, a notice for the owner or operator to report to the Bethlehem Parking Authority in regard to a violation.

(b) Waiver; Other Parking Violations. For violation of any provision of Article 531, the owner shall pay the applicable fine designated herein.

(1) For parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant or on a crosswalk,
the owner of a vehicle shall pay a fine of fifteen dollars ($15.00) within fourteen (14) days of the violation; thereafter, until a citation is issued, thirty-five dollars ($35.00); and, after the issuance of a citation, forty-five dollars ($45.00).

(2) For handicapped parking violations, the owner of a vehicle shall pay
a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) within fourteen days of the violation; thereafter, until a citation is issued, seventy dollars ($70.00); and, after the issuance of a citation, not less than eighty ($80.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00).

(3) For violations which involve official signs prohibiting stopping, standing or parking, the owner of the vehicle shall pay a fine of fifteen dollars ($15.00), within fourteen days of the violation; thereafter, until a citation is issued, thirty-five dollars ($35.00); and, after the issuance of a citation, forty –five dollars ($45.00).

(4) For violations involving unattended vehicles on private property, the owner of the vehicle shall pay a fine of fifteen dollars ($15.00) within fourteen days of the violation;

thereafter, until a citation is issued, thirty-five dollars ($35.00); and, after the issuance of citation, forty-five dollars ($45.00).

(5) For violations which involve inoperable vehicles or vehicles without current registration or inspection stickers, the owner of the vehicle shall pay a fine of fifteen dollars ($15 00), within fourteen days of the violation' thereafter, until a citation is issued thirty-five dollars ($35.00); and after the issuance of a citation forty-five dollars ($45.00).

(6) For violation of any other provision of this Article, the owner shall pay a fine of ten dollars ($10.00) within fourteen (14) days of the violation; and, until a citation is issued, thirty dollars ($30.00); and after the issuance of a citation, forty dollars ($40.00).

(7) Every owner who fails to pay the applicable fine shall, upon summary conviction, be fiend the applicable amount specified above and, in default of the payment of fine and costs, imprisoned for not more than ten (10) days.

(8) For each violation of Section 531.04, Parking Trucks and Trailers, the owner shall pay a fine of Fifty ($50.00) Dollars within fourteen (14) days of the violation; and thereafter until a citation is issued, Seventy ($70.00) Dollars; and after the issuance of a citation, not less than Eighty ($80.00) Dollars nor more than Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars.

(Ord. 2842. Passed 7/20/82; Ord. 3208. Passed 9/6/88;
Ord. 3402. Passed 3/5/91; Ord. 3618. Passed 6/7/94;
Ord. 3929. Passed 1/5/99; Ord. 3996. Passed 3/7/00;
Ord. 4447. Passed 11/7/07.)

(c) Special Condition. When the City Council shall declare, by Resolution, a Special Condition to exist for a designated period of time and within a designated area, the fine for violation of the provisions of this Article 531 set forth below

during the designated time and within the designated area shall be thirty dollars ($30.00) if paid within fourteen days of such violation; thereafter, until the issuance of a citation, forty-five dollars ($45.00); and, after the issuance of a citation, fifty-five dollars ($55.00). This section shall apply to violations of the following: Section 531.01(a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (8), (9), (10); Section 531.01(b)(1), (2), (3), (4), (8); Section 531.01(c)(2); Section 531.02(a), (b); Section 531.08; Section 531.09; and Section 531.10. Every owner who fails to pay the applicable fine shall, upon summary conviction, be fined fifty-five dollars ($55.00), and, in default of the payment of fine and costs, imprisoned for not more than ten (10) days. (Ord. 3136.
Passed 8/4/87; Ord. 3402. Passed 3/5/91; Ord. 3618. Passed 6/7/94; Ord. 3895. Passed 7/7/98.)

(d) Request for Hearing; Fine. An owner aggrieved by the receipt of a notice of violation issued pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof may, within fourteen (14) days of the date of the violation, notify the Bethlehem Parking Authority in person or in writing, that he or she desires a hearing before a district justice on the alleged violation. If an owner has made a timely request for a hearing, the owner shall, upon conviction, be assessed the minimum fine specified by the Article for the violation alleged. This provision shall not apply to summary appeals to the Courts of Common Pleas of Northampton and Lehigh Counties. (Ord. 3799. Passed 2/4/97.)