Trending
The City of Williamsport is trying to get a handle on recreational vehicles, campers, motorhomes and tractor trailers that park for days at a time on streets creating a hazardous situation for motorists.
"When those large RVs or motor homes are parked on city streets, it takes up a lot of space but it also creates a hazardous situation for whenever folks are pulling out or have to drive around them," Mayor Derek Slaughter said.
"It's pretty dangerous and that's where this came from," he told the City Council.
He had the solicitor firm look into amending what's called "Article 521 Stopping & Parking Generally." "We've been fielding calls, and they are generally staying parked generally for a long time," Slaughter said
The calls have been about recreational vehicles, tractor trailers, campers, and mobile homes that are parking and do not have a permit for work business in the city.
These parked large vehicles pose a hazard risk for vehicles when they are trying to drive around them or at corners, he said. The ordinance amendment is expected to help to alleviate dangerous scenarios.
Historical relevance
A number of years ago when Slaughter was on council, the city passed this ordinance initially introduced by then Councilman Don Noviello who was particularly concerned about tractor trailers lodging on streets and not moving over the two-day period, and wanted to see proper enforcement so he introduced the ordinance that eventually was approved.
Recently, the city has been having a decent amount of calls related to recreational vehicles, trailers and motorhomes, so the administration went back and looked at the ordinance.
"We realized that recreation vehicles, campers and motorhomes were not part of it," Slaughter said. "We thought it was kind of vague as the initial language says truck trailer or trailer," he said. It did not reference motorhomes, trailers, those types of vehicles, and it was recommended for this ordinance to add trailers, full trailers, house coach, house trailer, manufactured home, motor home, recreational trailer, truck trailer or truck camper on any street within the municipal limits of the city.
Slaughter said working with the city solicitor firm he thought this will accomplish what the initial intent of the ordinance was. The purpose of the amendment is really a public safety reason, he said.
In terms of enforcement on this the city would not ticket straight out of the gate but owners will get a notice and have a certain amount of time to move the vehicle.
Generally, for example, if the city puts a notice on an abandoned car it is usually moved.
"They always get a notice first," Slaughter said.
Council President Eric Beiter had a question on the section under an area and for visiting.
For example, if they came to Williamsport in a motor home.
When speaking with the solicitor he said that could happen -- such as an RV that is coming to or returning from a game at Penn State or a relative or friend visiting the city would allow them to park for 24 hours, but they would not be able to keep it there for any extended period of time.
"We are trying to make something within reason," Slaughter said.
"That makes perfect sense and I think that is a good concession," Beiter said.
Councilman Adam Yoder asked what is the process should people see an RV parked for days, or other vehicles.
Ideally, it should be the non-emergency telephone number or by sending an email to the city. The non-emergency number is on the city website.