The police are encouraging residents to register their bicycles. The department handles dozens of found bicycles each year, many of which had been previously stolen and were not reported to the police. It is extremely difficult and many times impossible for the police to locate the owners of these unlicensed bicycles. The police department donates these unclaimed bicycles to the Lancaster Boys and Girls Club for distribution to deserving children. Bicycle licenses can be purchased at the police department between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm for $1.00 and are good as long as the registered owner owns the bike. Click here for the registration form.

Burglar and Fire Alarms

The police department responds to dozens of alarms each year. A vast majority of these are false alarms. The Borough charges for redundant responses of police resources to false alarms. Residential and business alarm responses are tracked by the police department. Each resident and business gets three (3) free "false alarm" responses annually. The fourth (4th) is $25, fifth (5th) $50 and the sixth (6th) and each subsequent false alarm response is $100 per calendar year. Click here to view the ordinance.

Child Safety Seat Law

Child passenger protection laws apply to children under eight (8) years of age who are being transported in a passenger car, class 1 or class 2 truck, classic or antique motor vehicle, or motor home.  Children under four (4) years of age must be securly fastened in a child passenger restraint system.  Click here to view the PA Vehicle Code, Section 4581 for more information on Child Passenger Protection.

Dogs

The Borough has a contract with the Humane League and O.R.C.A. to pick up and house dogs that are picked up in Elizabethtown. The Borough is charged an annual flat fee, a per dog pick up fee, plus housing and mileage expenses. In 2009, Elizabethtown Borough charges the owner or responsible person a flat fee of $205 per dog, per pick up.

If you believe your dog has been picked up or you find a stray dog, contact O.R.C.A. at (717) 397-8922. O.R.C.A. will not pick up unconfined dogs. Click here to view the ordinance.

Emergency Contact Form for Businesses

In an effort to better serve the business community (and home owners with alarm systems), the Elizabethtown Police Department encourages business owners to submit and annually update their emergency notification list. 

Please answer every question thoroughly.  It is important that you attempt to list four different people to contact in case of an emergency during non-business hours.  Give consideration to the proximity these individuals live from your business because of the possibility they may be required to respond to the business in the middle of the night.

The completed emergency contact form can be mailed, faxed to, or dropped off at the Elizabethtown Police Department between the hours of 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  You can also place the completed form in the yellow parking ticket box located on the meter pole in front of 24 South Market Street and the main entrance to the police station. 

Please feel free to contact the police department if we can be of any assistance to you and your business with any special needs or problems.  

Click here to view the form.

Fingerprinting

All non-criminal fingerprinting is done by appointment. The Elizabethtown Police will fingerprint any Borough resident or person who works in Elizabethtown Borough free of charge. Residents of or persons who work in Conoy Township, East Donegal Township, Marietta Borough, Mount Joy Borough, Mount Joy Township or West Donegal Township are charged ten ($10) dollars. Other non-borough residents should contact their local police department or the PA State Police.  Citizens are reminded to bring photo identification and to complete all information on the fingerprint cards prior to the appointment.

Gun Locks Available to Residents

The police department offers free gun lock kits to Borough residents. The kits are part of the Project ChildSafe program. The kits include a cable-style gun locking device, lock installment instructions and a safety booklet. Interested residents are encouraged to pick up their gun lock kits at the police department during normal business hours between 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Noise Nuisance

Between the hours of 9 PM - 7 AM, sound that causes a noise disturbance across a property line (boundary) is prohibited. Click here to view the ordinance.

Outdoor Burning

Outdoor burning of any trash, refuse or leaves is prohibited. Click here to view the ordinance.

Park Regulations

Hours of operation are 7 AM - 10:30 PM. No person is permitted in the park when it is closed. Alcoholic beverages, practicing golf, motor vehicles or any animal (seeing eye dogs exempted) are prohibited from being in the park at any time. Click here to view the ordinance.

Use of Skateboards

The use of roller skates, street bikes, skateboards and scooters are covered in this ordinance.  Where are you able to ride?  To find out click here to view the ordinance.

Transient Retail Business

A permit is needed for any door-to-door sales, there are some exceptions for certain groups (see ordinance).

There is a $15 fee for the permit processing and an additional $10 fee for a background check, or in lieu of the $10 background check fee, the applicant can be responsible for getting their own background check through the Pennsylvania State Police. In all cases, the applicant must show proof that a background check was completed prior to the permit being issued. Click here to view the ordinance. You can also click here to view the Transient Retail Business Permit Application Packet.

Vehicle Parking

Commercial, Recreational and Non-motorized Vehicle Parking Restrictions:

Parking of any vehicle on any parking lot owned, operated or managed by the Borough, or on any Borough street, for a continuous period of time greater than 72 hours is prohibited.

Commercial, recreational and non-motorized vehicles have additional restrictions. Commercial and recreational vehicles are restricted from parking on any street, highway or alley between 12:01 AM and 6:00 AM. Non-motorized vehicles (unattached trailers) are restricted to being parked for no more than 2 consecutive hours on any street, highway or alley. Click here to view the ordinance.

Other Links

You can find other helpful links by logging onto the Pennsylvania State Police website at http://www.psp.state.pa.us/.

Megan's Law violator website link:   http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/

Request for Police Patches

The Elizabethtown Police Department does have used patches available for sell to bona fide law enforcement patch collectors.  The patches are $5 each.  A request must be accompanied with payment and a self addressed stamped envelope.  There is a limit of two patches per collector.  Personal checks or money orders will be accepted payable to Elizabethtown Borough.  The police department does not recommend sending cash through the US Mail.  The police department reserves the right to deny any request for police patches. 

Requests should be sent to:
Elizabethtown Police Department
Attn:  Patch Request
600 South Hanover Street
Elizabethtown, PA 17022