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EMERGENCY
In the event you need the emergency services of police, fire, or ambulance, dial 9-1-1. A Berks County Communications Center telecommunicator will answer the phone and ask you the following questions about the emergency:
Your name
Address of the emergency
Telephone number you are calling from
A brief description of the emergency, if know. For example: "My kitchen is on
fire", or "There is an accident at the intersection of Rt. 724 and Rt.10."
It is important to remain calm so the telecommunicator can assist you. Telecommunicators ask standard questions to help them make evaluations, decisions and forward the necessary information to those responding to your call. Officers will then use this and other information to assign personnel and equipment.
A computer assists the telecommunicator when the fire company is dispatched with information on the fire hydrant locations, water supplies, the name of the subdivision in which the address is located and the closest intersection to the address.
If you want to report an incident which is not an emergency, dial the police at 610-777-9595 or the Berks County Communications Center at 610-655-4911.
Abandoned Vehicles
Abandoned vehicles are not always illegally parked vehicles. A vehicle is abandoned if (a) it is physically inoperable and is left unattended on a highway or other public property for more than 48 hours; (b) it remains illegally parked on a highway or other public property for a period of more than 48 hours; (c) it is left unattended on or along a highway or other public property for more than 48 hours without a valid registration plate, a current certificate of inspection, an ascertainable vehicle identification number or (d) has remained on private property without the consent of the property owner for more than 24 hours.
It is illegal to abandon a vehicle unless the owner or operator notifies the nearest police agency within 48 hours when the vehicle is on a highway or other public property, or within 24 hours when the vehicle is left on private property. If the private property owner cannot be notified, a note explaining the circumstances should be left on the vehicle in a conspicuous place.
When an abandoned vehicle is removed from a highway, public property or private property by the police, the owner of the abandoned vehicle is subject to a fine of $500.00 including the costs related to towing and disposal of the vehicle.
If you have an abandoned vehicle on your property, or know of such a vehicle on a highway or other public property, please report it to the Township police by calling 610-777-9595.
Auto Inspections
In Pennsylvania vehicles must be inspected at an approved inspection station and display a valid inspection sticker to be operated on a highway. Inspection stations are privately-owned but certified by the state. The station will require you show a current registration card and proof of insurance for the vehicle being inspected. Inspection stickers usually become invalid on the last day of the month in which the vehicle?s registration expires.
Auto Registration
If you are a new resident in Pennsylvania, you must obtain a new title and registration for your vehicle and obtain Pennsylvania plates within 60 days after you move here. Applications for operator licenses, vehicle titles and registration plates may be obtained at any State Police facility or any District Justice?s office. If you would like additional information about driving, licensing or registering your vehicle, call the State Police at 610-378-4011.
Bicycle Operation
All persons operating a bicycle must obey vehicle traffic control signals, signs and other devices. Bicycles must travel in the proper direction on 1-way streets unless the person dismounts from the bicycle and obeys all pedestrian regulations. Bicyclists must ride as close to the right-hand side of the roadway as is possible. Operators may not carry another person on a bicycle unless the bicycle is designed and equipped to carry another person (adults carrying a small child securely attached to the adult in a backpack or sling excluded).
When operating a bicycle between sunset and sunrise, the bike must be equipped with a front light that emits light visible for at least 500 feet, amber reflections on each side, and a red reflector visible from the rear of the bicycle for 600 feet. A red light visible to the rear for at least 500 feet may be used in addition to the red reflector.
Bicycle Registration
To prevent theft and help the police trace lost or stolen bicycles, all bicycles must be registered. Bicycle registrations, at no cost, can be obtained by calling the Traffic Safety Officer.
Citizen Complaint
If you have a complaint about the Police Department, please click on the following link "Citizen Complaint Procedure" to download the procedures for reporting a complaint.
Crime Prevention
At Home - Patrol Officers will check houses whose owners are on vacation. Residents who will be away for more than two days may contact the Police Department to register their home for this inspection.
At Home or At Work - Operation ID is a program sponsored by the Township to help protect your property and help reclaim it if stolen. The program is simple. Maintain a record of all appliances, tools, radios, television sets, firearms and other valuables owned and inscribe them with your Pennsylvania driver?s license number preceded by the letters PA. Mark each item in a hidden location and an obvious one. Engravers may be borrowed from the Police Department. You should report stolen or lost items as soon as they are discovered missing.
At Work - Free crime-prevention assistance is available from the Police Department. A specially-developed program provides suggestions and techniques you may implement to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of employee theft, shoplifting, burglary, larceny, robbery, fraud or other criminal acts. An officer will conduct a security survey of your business and make crime-prevention presentations to your employees and business and professional groups.
The police encourage business owners/operators to provide information to aid law enforcement officials in maintaining effective service and security for businesses. The police maintain a business directory, which includes a listing of management personnel of local businesses, and information on how to contact responsible people in case of an emergency. Local business owners and operators should stop by the Police Department to update their entry any time vital information changes. Information supplied will be used only as part of official police business and will be held in strict confidence.
Crime Reporting
The Cumru Township Police Department is located at 1775 Welsh Road, Mohnton, Pa. 19540. To report a life-threatening emergency, crime or suspicious activity, call the police at 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call 610-777-9595.
You will be asked your name, address and phone number and a brief description of what is happening. A police officer will then contact you and take the necessary information about what happened, where, when and who was involved, etc.. Information about the people that is especially helpful is names or physical descriptions, facial features, type of clothing, and approximate age. The description of any vehicle involved (color, model, year, license plate number and state) is important.
Driver's License
Unless you regularly dwell in two or more states and have declared your residence elsewhere, you must obtain a Pennsylvania driver?s license within 60 days after having moved here. An application for a learner?s permit or driver?s license can be obtained at any State Police facility, Driver Exam Point, or District Justice office.
Employment Opportunities
Applicants must pass a written examination, a test of interpersonal skills, a physical agility test and drug matrix, and an oral interview. From these tests, a "list of eligibles," ranked in order of final scores, is posted. The Chief of Police recommends one person from the top three names on the list for each vacancy to be filled. A thorough background investigation is conducted. After interviews, the best qualified candidate is appointed by the Board of Commissioners , conditioned upon passing psychological and medical exams.
If the new officer is not already certified as a trained municipal police officer, the new recruit is enrolled in a 24-week training program to achieve certification. Salary and benefits are paid to the officer during the training period. Successful completion of the 24-week training course is required for continued employment as a Police Officer.
Applications for police positions are accepted only when the Township is actively recruiting officers. If you would like to be notified the next time we recruit, please call the Cumru Township Police Department Administrative Office at 610-777-9595.
Fingerprinting
The Cumru Township Police Department provides some fingerprinting services. Contact the Cumru Township Police Department Administrative Office at 610-777-9595 for questions or appointments for these services. There is a $25.00 fee.
Reporting an Accident
If you are involved in an accident, there are several things you are legally required to do. First, you must stop at the scene of the accident or as close to the scene as possible without blocking traffic. Even before the police arrive, you may move the vehicles if they are obstructing traffic.
Give help to anyone who is injured. Don?t attempt to move an injured person from the scene, you are required by law to report the accident to the police. Call 9-1-1 to report the accident.
Exchange the following information with the other operator(s): name, address, telephone number, operator license number, and vehicle registration and insurance information.
If there are no personal injuries and vehicles can be removed from the scene, you are not required to report the accident to the police but may do so if either party desires. It is wise to exchange the same information as listed above.
If you hit an unattended vehicle or someone else?s property, you must stop at the scene and notify the owner of the vehicle or property and provide them with your name, address, telephone number, operator?s license number, vehicle registration and insurance information. If you cannot find the operator or custodian of the property, you must leave a note with the cited information attached to the vehicle or property in a conspicuous place and notify the police of the accident.
Seat Belts & Safety Seats
The Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code requires that, in vehicles manufactured after 7/1/66, the driver and front seat occupants of a passenger car, Class 1 truck, Class II truck or motor home shall wear a properly-adjusted and fastened safety belt.
These regulations do not apply to occupants who possess a written exemption from a physician, psychiatrist or other specialist qualified to make an informed judgment that the person is unable t wear a safety seat belt for a specified reason; a Postal Service rural letter carrier while operating any vehicle during the performance of their duties; or a driver who makes frequent stops and is traveling less than 15 miles-per-hour for the purpose of delivering goods or services.
Any child under the age of four years who is a passenger anywhere in the vehicle must be secured in a child passenger restraint system that meets the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Any child four years of age but under eight years of age who is a passenger anywhere in the vehicle must be secured in a safety belt system and in a proper fitting child booster seat that meets the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
To view the list of child safety seats that have been recalled, go to: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm.
Traffic Citation (Moving Violation) Appeals
Citations for traffic violations or summary criminal offenses cannot be appealed at the Cumru Township Police Department. Appeal instructions are written on the citation. All appeals are made at the office of the District Justice.
The District Justice is Nicolas Bentz. He is located a 1786 Welsh Road, Mohnton, PA 19540. His office number is 610-777-3885.
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