As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following definitions unless otherwise designated:
“Abandoned vehicle” means:
1. A vehicle located on public property illegally;
2. A vehicle located on public property continuously without being moved for three days, but the timeframe shall be extended to thirty days for a properly licensed vehicle located on public property in front of the legal or temporary residence of the owner of said vehicle;
3. A vehicle located on public property in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the movement of pedestrian or vehicle traffic on a public right-of-way;
4. A vehicle from which there has been removed the engine, transmission or differentia! or that is otherwise partially dismantled or inoperable and left on public property;
5. A vehicle that has been removed by a towing service or a public agency upon request of an officer enforcing a statute or ordinance other than this chapter, if the vehicle once impounded is not claimed or redeemed by the owner or his agent within fifteen days of its removal.
“Automobile scrapyard” means a business organized for the purpose of scrap metal processing, automobile wrecking or operating a junkyard.
“Board” refers to the board of public works and safety of the city.
“Bureau” refers to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
“Enforcement officer” means a code enforcement officer of the city.
“Inoperable vehicle” means any vehicle typically powered by an engine that is partially dismantled, mechanically inoperable, or unsafe to drive. An inoperable vehicle may include, but is not limited to, vehicles with missing wheels and/or fiat tires, or significant collision damage that would render the vehicle unsafe to drive.
“Lienholder" refers to a person holding a valid lien, mortgage, security interest or interest under a conditional sales contract, or a person noted as a lienholder according to the records of the bureau.
"Officer" means:
1. A regular member of the police department;
2. An individual of an agency other than the police department designated by the board to enforce this chapter.
"Owner" means the last known record titleholder of a vehicle according to the records of the bureau under Indiana Code, Ch. 9-22-1 et seq.
"Parts" refers to all components of a vehicle that as assembled do not constitute a complete vehicle.
"Person" means individual, firm, corporation, association, fiduciary or governmental entity.
"Private property" means all property other than public property.
"Public property" means a public right-of-way, street, highway, alley, part or other state, county or municipal property.
"Towing service" means a business that engages in moving or removing disabled vehicles and, once removed, to store or impound vehicles.
"Unlicensed vehicle" means any vehicle that is not currently registered and does not have a license plate displaying the current registration sticker on the vehicle in a manner described in I.C. 9-18.1-4-4.
"Vehicle" refers to any land vehicle which can be used for towing or transporting people or materials including, but not limited to, an automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semitrailer, tractor, bus, school bus, recreational vehicle or motor home. (Ord. 16-2019, 2019; Ord. 36-2016 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 2014; Amended during 1994 codification; Prior code § 15-177)