Fire Truck on 4th - 9/9

**chrisw** · 09-10-2012, 10:24 AM

So yesterday there was what looked like a big to-do at 4th and Catharine. A fire truck attempting to turn left on 4th to get to a fire location at 4th and Queen ran into the parked car on the south side of Catharine right at the corner. The car received several tickets, which surprised me since there were no signs forbidding parking in that location.

I did some digging and found the PA parking ordinances (http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms.../chapter33.pdf) ... it would appear that in addition to the well-known 15-feet-from-a-fire-hydrant rule, it's illegal to park within 20 feet of a crosswalk and within 30 feet of a stop sign. I had no idea that law existed!

Gotta feel for the owner of the car who came out to find that not only was the front passenger side pretty badly damaged (it appeared mostly cosmetic, but the headlight was pretty well destroyed), but he got a few tickets as well!

Also does anybody know anything about the fire?

**ShoshTrvls** · 09-10-2012, 10:48 AM

A dryer at the laundromat overheated and caught on fire. It provided a bit of unexpected excitement at the 300 Queen Street block party. Did not know about the parked car.

**thegreattwizz** · 09-10-2012, 12:43 PM

Can we get a QV twitter account so this stuff can get tweeted for us all to see?

**Marc** · 09-10-2012, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by thegreattwizz

Can we get a QV twitter account so this stuff can get tweeted for us all to see?

who's going to do the tweeting? QVNA has ‏ @qvnaorg

**QVM** · 09-10-2012, 12:58 PM

I saw that lst night. I assume the ticket was given out because the car was parked too close to the corner.

Originally Posted by chrisw

So yesterday there was what looked like a big to-do at 4th and Catharine. A fire truck attempting to turn left on 4th to get to a fire location at 4th and Queen ran into the parked car on the south side of Catharine right at the corner. The car received several tickets, which surprised me since there were no signs forbidding parking in that location.

I did some digging and found the PA parking ordinances (http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms.../chapter33.pdf) ... it would appear that in addition to the well-known 15-feet-from-a-fire-hydrant rule, it's illegal to park within 20 feet of a crosswalk and within 30 feet of a stop sign. I had no idea that law existed!

Gotta feel for the owner of the car who came out to find that not only was the front passenger side pretty badly damaged (it appeared mostly cosmetic, but the headlight was pretty well destroyed), but he got a few tickets as well!

Also does anybody know anything about the fire?

**dogoagogo** · 09-10-2012, 12:59 PM

30 feet from a stop sign.... *dies laughing*

**Marc** · 09-10-2012, 12:59 PM

There were actually 4 fire trucks at one point...3 on 4th, (1 north of Catherine and 2 between Catherine and Queen) and another on Queen between 4th and 5th.

We were at Wiccacoe and watched a fireman on a roof and another in an upper window.

Wow, did not know about all the extra parking rules. Here's hoping PPA continues to forget about them!

**thegreattwizz** · 09-10-2012, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Marc

There were actually 4 fire trucks at one point...3 on 4th, (1 north of Catherine and 2 between Catherine and Queen) and another on Queen between 4th and 5th.

We were at Wiccacoe and watched a fireman on a roof and another in an upper window.

Wow, did not know about all the extra parking rules. Here's hoping PPA continues to forget about them!

I'm not certain PPA would have the authority to enforce STATE parking regulations...

**O.H. Lee** · 09-11-2012, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Marc

There were actually 4 fire trucks at one point...3 on 4th, (1 north of Catherine and 2 between Catherine and Queen) and another on Queen between 4th and 5th.

We were at Wiccacoe and watched a fireman on a roof and another in an upper window.

Wow, did not know about all the extra parking rules. Here's hoping PPA continues to forget about them!

Here's hoping you don't need a rescue squad or a fire truck that can't make the turn to get quickly to your house.

**O.H. Lee** · 09-11-2012, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by thegreattwizz

I'm not certain PPA would have the authority to enforce STATE parking regulations...

They do have the authority.

All of the Pa Motor Vehicle Code Parking Regulations were duplicated as Philadelphia Codes, mainly so the city would get all of the revenue.

But every PA MVC parking violation can be written as a Philadelphia Code Violation.

**Marc** · 09-11-2012, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by O.H. Lee

Here's hoping you don't need a rescue squad or a fire truck that can't make the turn to get quickly to your house.

Touche.

Though living on a carriage street, I think I'm largely screwed at baseline.

**Eames** · 09-12-2012, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by chrisw

So yesterday there was what looked like a big to-do at 4th and Catharine. A fire truck attempting to turn left on 4th to get to a fire location at 4th and Queen ran into the parked car on the south side of Catharine right at the corner. The car received several tickets, which surprised me since there were no signs forbidding parking in that location.

I did some digging and found the PA parking ordinances (http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms.../chapter33.pdf) ... it would appear that in addition to the well-known 15-feet-from-a-fire-hydrant rule, it's illegal to park within 20 feet of a crosswalk and within 30 feet of a stop sign. I had no idea that law existed!

Gotta feel for the owner of the car who came out to find that not only was the front passenger side pretty badly damaged (it appeared mostly cosmetic, but the headlight was pretty well destroyed), but he got a few tickets as well!

I knew this because it was a question on the PA DL exam when I took it. I saw the illegally parked car (from NJ) and if I recall correctly it was inside the "no parking anytime" sign that they place near each corner. I am going to 2x check the sign again tonight when I get home.

While it sucks to get your car wrecked, it also demonstrates a totally self centered driver who may have been able to park HIS/HER car, but made life difficult for any large truck that had to turn off Catharine onto 4th. I have no sympathy for this car's owner. Even if I'm not remembering the signage 10% correctly, I definitely remember that the car was very obviously too close to the corner itself.

**thegreattwizz** · 09-12-2012, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by O.H. Lee

They do have the authority.

All of the Pa Motor Vehicle Code Parking Regulations were duplicated as Philadelphia Codes, mainly so the city would get all of the revenue.

But every PA MVC parking violation can be written as a Philadelphia Code Violation.

Thank you for the clarification.

So I understand this, the PPA can only write violations of CITY code, not of a PA MVC code?

**O.H. Lee** · 09-14-2012, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by thegreattwizz

Thank you for the clarification.

So I understand this, the PPA can only write violations of CITY code, not of a PA MVC code?

Yes, but the city code mirrors the state code.

Example- Blocking a fire hydrant may be MVC 3334-A-3. The city code is blocking the hydrant but city code 903-A-3.

Same exact violation different numbers.

**thegreattwizz** · 09-14-2012, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by O.H. Lee

Yes, but the city code mirrors the state code.

Example- Blocking a fire hydrant may be MVC 3334-A-3. The city code is blocking the hydrant but city code 903-A-3.

Same exact violation different numbers.

Got it, thank you!