Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 58321-A. Fines and penalties

(1) A township ordinance shall prescribe fines and penalties for violation.

(2) An ordinance under this subsection may provide that a separate violation under paragraph (1)(i) or (ii) shall arise for:

(3) An ordinance may provide for assessment of court costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the township in the enforcement proceedings.

(4) The board of commissioners may delegate the initial determination of ordinance violation and the service of notice of violation to a qualified officer or agent.

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if the penalty is not paid, the township shall initiate a civil action for collection in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. A township shall be exempt from the payment of costs in an action under this paragraph.

(2) For an ordinance regulating building, housing, property maintenance, health, fire, public safety, parking, solicitation, curfew, water or air or noise pollution, enforcement shall be by a criminal action in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. The municipal solicitor may assume charge of the prosecution without the consent of the district attorney as required under Pa.R.Crim.P. No. 454 (relating to trial in summary cases). Violations of the property maintenance code or ordinance may also be enforced under section 3105-A(c). 1

(3) Except for an ordinance subject to paragraph (2), an ordinance enacted prior to the effective date of this section shall be deemed automatically amended so that it shall be enforced under paragraph (1).

(4) If a civil claim under this subsection, exclusive of interest, costs or fees, exceeds the monetary jurisdiction of a magisterial district judge under 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515(a) (relating to jurisdiction and venue), the township may: