Chapter 8.20
DISCARDED VEHICLES
Sections:
8.20.010 Discarded vehicles prohibited.
8.20.020 Owner responsibility.
8.20.070 Repair of vehicles on streets.
8.20.010 Discarded vehicles prohibited.
It shall be unlawful to park, store or leave, or permit the parking or storing of a motor vehicle of any kind for a period of time in excess of 24 hours, which is in a rusted, wrecked, junked, partially dismantled, inoperable, unlicensed or abandoned condition, whether attended or not, upon any public or private property within the city, unless it is located or situated where it is not visible from a public street, or unless it is in connection with a business enterprise, and property operated in the appropriate business zone, pursuant to the zoning laws of the city. A vehicle that otherwise would be in violation of this chapter will be considered in compliance if it is completely covered with an earth tone fitted cover designed for that same specific vehicle model. For the purposes of this section, a tarp or plastic cover is not a fitted cover. [Code 2000 § 6.700; Ord. 2013-004, 2013; Ord. 2014-002, 2014.]
8.20.020 Owner responsibility.
The accumulation and storage of one or more of such vehicles, as hereinbefore defined, on public or private property shall constitute rubbish and unsightly debris and a nuisance, detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the city, and it shall be the duty of the registered owner of the vehicle, the owner of the private property, or the lessee or other person in possession of the private property upon which the vehicle is located to remove it from the city, or to have it located where it will not be visible from a public street. [Code 2000 § 6.705; Ord. 2014-002, 2014.]
8.20.030 Notice.
It shall be the duty of the chief of police to give written notice to the registered owner of any motor vehicle which is in violation of CMC 8.20.010 and 8.20.020, or to give such notice to the owner or lessee of the private land upon which such motor vehicle is situated, that the vehicle violates this code and demand that the motor vehicle be removed from the city within 48 hours, or that within 48 hours it must be located where it will not be visible from a public street. The notice will also state that repeat violation(s) within 60 days are subject to a 24-hour remediation requirement. The notice may be given by personal service or by certified or registered mail, with return receipt requested. [Code 2000 § 6.710; Ord. 2014-002, 2014.]
8.20.040 Violation.
If the vehicle is not removed or located as provided in the notice, those persons who were given notice shall be in violation of this code. [Code 2000 § 6.715; Ord. 2014-002, 2014.]
8.20.045 Repeat violation(s).
If a vehicle previously noticed under CMC 8.20.030 is again in violation of CMC 8.20.010 within 60 days of the previous notice, the chief of police may order that the vehicle be impounded if the violation is not corrected within 24 hours after notice is provided. [Ord. 2014-002, 2014.]
8.20.050 Impoundment.
(A) If the vehicle is not moved or located in compliance with the direction contained in the notice, the chief of police may cause the vehicle to be removed to a commercial garage, an automobile wrecking yard, or any other suitable place for storage of the vehicle, or vehicles, as may be designated by the chief of police.
(B) Within 48 hours after the removal and storage of the vehicle, in compliance with this section, the chief of police shall give written notice, either personally or by certified or registered mail, to the registered owner of the vehicle, and also to the owner, lessee, or person in possession of the land from which the vehicle was removed, that the vehicle has been impounded and stored for violation of this code.
(C) The notice shall include the location of the place where the vehicle is stored, the costs incurred by the city for the removal or towing, the storage charges accruing, and that, if the charges are not paid in full to the city recorder within 10 days immediately following the giving of notice, the vehicle shall be deemed to have been abandoned and will thereafter be discarded as junk or may, in the discretion of the chief of police, be sold as an abandoned vehicle in the manner prescribed by this code, disposing of abandoned vehicles. [Code 2000 § 6.720.]
8.20.060 Fees and charges.
If any vehicle is impounded and stored by the chief of police, under the provisions of this code or any ordinance of the city, or pursuant to any other lawful authority of the police department, the vehicle shall not be released until all charges connected with the removal, towing, and storage of the vehicle have been fully paid, as evidence by the city recorder’s paid receipt. [Code 2000 § 6.725.]
8.20.070 Repair of vehicles on streets.
It shall be unlawful to disassemble, construct, reconstruct, repair and/or service motor vehicles of any kind in or upon any street, road, alley or public thoroughfare in the city except for emergency service in which case emergency service shall not extend over a period of two hours and shall not interfere with or impede the flow of traffic. [Code 2000 § 6.730.]