16.130 Junked and Abandoned Vehicles.

(1) No person shall abandon or cause to be abandoned any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or mobile home on any highway or public or private property within the City. A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or mobile home shall be deemed abandoned within the meaning of this section, and shall constitute a public nuisance, in any of the following situations:

(a) Whenever any such vehicle is left unattended on any highway or public or private property within the City for such time and under such circumstances as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned. Any vehicle left unattended on any public property, including any highway or public street, for a period in excess of 24 hours shall be deemed abandoned;

(b) Whenever any such vehicle is disassembled, inoperable, unlicensed, junked or wrecked and is stored or allowed to remain in the open upon public or private property within the City for a period in excess of 72 hours after notifying, in writing, the owner of the real property upon which such vehicle is placed or stored and mailing of notice to the last-known address of the vehicle owner, if different than the owner of the real property;

(c) Whenever any such vehicle has been allowed to remain standing on any highway or public property in the City for more than 72 hours after a notice of parking violation has been placed on the vehicle; provided, that at least 48 hours have passed since mailing of a notice of intent to deem vehicle abandoned to the last-known address of the owner;

(d) Whenever any vehicle has been left unattended on public or private property without the permission of the property owner for more than 48 hours.

(2) Exceptions. The following vehicles shall be considered not junked or abandoned within the meaning of subsection (1) of this section:

(a) Vehicles kept in connection with an automotive sales or repair business enterprise located in a properly zoned area;

(b) Vehicles kept in an enclosed building;

(c) Vehicles located on the premises of a business operated in a lawful place and manner when necessary to the operation of such business enterprise; and

(d) Vehicles in an appropriate storage or depository maintained in a lawful place and manner by the City.

(3) Impounding. Any junked or abandoned vehicle found to be in violation of this section may be impounded and disposed of as provided in Wis. Stat. § 342.40. The Manitowoc Police Department shall be responsible for the administration of this subsection (3). Sale of impounded vehicles shall be by auction sale.

(4) Penalties. Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to penalties per MMC 16.370(2). Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense.

[Ord. 21-984 § 1, 2021; Ord. 18-475 § 1, 2018. Prior code § 16.13]