Tyrone Borough has passed a new ordinance to update and amend its previous ordinance regarding snow and ice emergencies in the borough.
The new ordinance allows for the triggering of an odd/even parking policy when a snow fall of three inches or more occurs without the mayor having to declare a snow emergency. Vehicles must park on the odd side of the street on odd-numbered days and the even side on even-numbered days. For the purposes of the policy, the day runs from 8 a.m. on any day the policy is in effect to 8 a.m. the next day.
Borough officials said they would adminster the policy this way so motorists wouldn’t have to move vehicles at midnight when the date changes from an odd-numbered day to an even-numbered day or vice-versa.
Vehicles parked on streets with only one side parking must be moved.
Violators who do not move a vehicle within two hours after being notified their vehicle is not in compliance will be towed and their vehicle not released until the cost of towing, fine and storage has been paid. Upon conviction, the fine is not less than $25 and not more than $50.
The policy can be put into effect between the first day of November and the first day of May of each year.
Also under the new ordinance, the mayor at his or her discretion may declare a snow or ice emergency which would trigger the use of certain roads as emergency routes. Vehicles would be banned from parking on either side of the street along the routes under such an emergency. If just “three inches of snow” parking policy were in effect, motorists would still have to abide by the odd/even policy on the emergency routes and all other streets.
Under a snow/ice emergency declaration, vehicles would also not be permitted to operated on the emergency routes without snow tires or chains in use. Fines for violating the emergency route polices are also not less than $25 and not more than $50 if convicted.
Interim Borough Manager Sharon Dannaway said the mayor most likely would use the emergency declaration during major snow falls.
Information about the odd/even policy and snow/ice emergencies would be given through the use of radio, newspaper or other available media. The termination of the declaration of emergency and/or the odd/even policy would also be given to the public through the media.
The borough’s ordinance No. 1224 lists the following streets as designated snow emergency routes: Pennsylvania Avenue from the railroad to 12th Street; Logan Avenue from the Moose to 12th Street; 11th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Logan Avenue; 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Logan Avenue and 10th Street from Bald Eagle Avenue to Washington Avenue.
