A Guide to Colored Borders in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Parking Laws: Understanding the Basics
Knowing the parking laws and regulations in Pennsylvania is just as important as knowing all other traffic rules. If you park in an illegal place, you may be fined and your car may even be towed. You don't want to go through the hassle of paying those fines or getting your car out of jail, so take the time to learn some of the most important parking laws in the state.
Laws to know
Whenever you park at a curb, you want your tires to be as close to it as possible. You must be within 12 inches of a curb to be legal. If there is no curb, you need to pull off the road as much as possible to make sure your vehicle is not in the road. There are many places where you won't be able to park, stop or stand next to your car unless a police officer tells you to.
Double parking is illegal in Pennsylvania. This is when a vehicle parks or stops on the side of the roadway of a car that has already stopped or parked at the curb. It takes up too much space on the roadway and is dangerous as well as impolite.
Drivers are prohibited from parking on sidewalks, intersections and pedestrian crossings. You may not park your vehicle next to or in front of construction or earthworks on the street, as this is likely to block or obstruct traffic in some way. You may not park on a bridge or any other elevated structure or in a motorway tunnel. Do not park on railroad tracks or between carriageways on a divided highway.
You must park at least 50 feet from the nearest railroad crossing and at least 15 feet from a fire hydrant. This will ensure that fire engines have access to the hydrant in case of an emergency. You must park at least 20 feet from a fire station entrance and 30 feet from a flashing signal, stop sign, give way sign, or traffic control device on the side of the road. It is also illegal to park in front of a public or private driveway. Also, you can not park in places that impede the movement of trams.
Do not park in disabled spaces unless you have signs or signs indicating that you are legally allowed to do so. There are serious fines for illegal parking in handicapped spaces.
Please be aware that fines and even some specific laws may vary by community. It's in your best interest to find out if there are differences in parking laws in your city. Also, keep a close eye on the signs indicating where and when you can park in certain areas. This will reduce the chance that you will receive a fine.
