OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – The Oil City Police are reminding citizens of the Abandon Vehicles Pa. Vehicle Code Sec. 3712(a), and the corresponding Oil City Parking Ordinance for “Dead Storage Vehicles.”

The Oil City Police department issued the following release on October 4, 2015:

The reason for this notice is that in the upcoming months, as weather begins to change, it greatly affects parking throughout the city; therefore officers will step up enforcement of the ordinance and vehicle code sections.

These efforts are directed at maximizing the already limited on-street parking in neighborhoods, and removal of unsightly vehicles.

Additional officers will also be working in conjunction with Oil City Public Works and Street Departments during fall leaf removal, and winter snow removal; using these sections as tools to remove obstructing vehicles from the roadways.

The vehicle code and city ordinance enforcement criteria:

If your vehicle is/has one or more of the following:

-Physically Inoperable/Disabled (non-drivable condition)
-The registration (license) plate is expired or suspended
-PA inspection sticker is expired
-VIN number (located on the dash board on the driver’s side) is unable to be read

Under these conditions your vehicle will be tagged, with a bright pink notice on windshield, as “Dead Storage” and must be removed by the owner within 48 hours of being tagged. If the owner fails to remove the vehicle, officers will return and have the vehicle towed at the owner’s expense.

If your vehicle is/has one or more of the following:

-Does not have current Required Financial Responsibility (car insurance) coverage, per Pa. Vehicle Code Sec. 1786(f)
-The registration (license) plate is expired/revoked/suspended more than 90 days
-The VIN number cannot be read, and there is no displayed registration plate

Your vehicle will be subjected to immediate removal from the roadway at the owner’s expense.

Additional financial penalties could be imposed on any violating vehicle owner. These include a fine ranging from $500 — $1000, dependent upon number of violations by the owner.

Additional towing/storage and salvage fees; initial state contract towing service for $110, minimum of $35 one day storage fee with an additional charge of $35 per day, and if the vehicle is not reclaimed within 48 hours of removal an additional $50 fee will be paid to the state for reclamation paperwork.

For example, under a First Offense scenario, a violating owner could face a minimum of their vehicle being removed, $645 in fines and towing fees, and additional court related expenses.

It is important to remember that the only citizens who will be affected by these enforcement efforts are those already violating Pa. Vehicle Code Regulations.

If your vehicle is roadworthy, has a valid license plate, inspection, and current insurance, you have no concerns.

We would also askthat any citizen who knows of any vehicles in their neighborhood fitting these listed criteria, and parked upon the roadway; please contact the Oil City Police Dept. at (814)-678-3080 so that we can remove all offending vehicles as promptly as possible.

These sections do not apply to any vehicle parked on private off-street property.

We would like to thank all of our citizens for their attention, and wish safe and happy holiday season.