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East Pennsboro Township Police Department has answered over 150 calls for service regarding abandoned vehicles. An abandoned vehicle, as defined by the PA Vehicle Code, is a vehicle that satisfies any or all of the following: 1) Is physically inoperable and is left unattended on a roadway for a period of 48 hrs 2) A vehicle that has remained illegally on a roadway for a period of 48 hours. 3) A vehicle that is on a roadway and does not bear all of the following: a) a valid registration plate b) a current certificate of inspection c) an ascertainable vehicle identification number.
Vehicles are also considered abandoned when it has remained on private property without consent of the owner of the property for a period of 24 hours
The legislative session brought us many changes in PA law, including penalties for abandoning a vehicle on public or private property. For the first offense, the penalty for conviction is $500. The previous fine was $50 plus all costs of disposing of the vehicle. For a second offense, the new fine is $ 1,000. For a third conviction, he/she is guilt of a misdemeanor of the third degree. All offenses carry an additional penalty of being required to pay all costs of disposing of the vehicle. The Police officers and Community Service officers for the Township are dedicated to keep all roadways as well as public and private property free of abandoned vehicles by aggressively enforcing this provision of the Vehicle Code.
Any person who has any questions, needs clarification, or would like to report an abandoned vehicle in their vicinity can call the Police Department Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm at 732-3633.
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