For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED VEHICLE. One that:
(1) Has been left upon a street or highway in violation of a law or ordinance prohibiting parking; or
(2) Is left on property owned or operated by the city for longer than 24 hours; or
(3) Is left on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant, or lessee thereof for longer than two hours; or
(4) Is left on any public street or highway for longer than seven days or is determined by law enforcement to be a hazard to the motoring public.
(G.S. § 160A-303)
AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL. The town’s Police Department is designated to authorize the removal of vehicles under the provisions of this chapter.
JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE. As authorized and defined in G.S. § 160A-303, a vehicle that does not display a current license plate lawfully upon that vehicle and that:
(1) Is partially dismantled or wrecked;
(2) Cannot be self-propelled or moved in the manner in which it originally was intended to move; or
(3) Is more than five years old and appears to be worth less than $500.
MOTOR VEHICLE or VEHICLE. All machines designed or intended to travel over land by self-propulsion or while attached to any self-propelled vehicle.
NUISANCE VEHICLE. A nuisance vehicle on public or private property is one that is determined and declared to be a health or safety hazard and unlawful, including a vehicle found to be:
(1) A breeding ground or harbor for mosquitoes, other insects, rats or other pests;
(2) A point of heavy growth of weeds or other noxious vegetation over eight inches in height;
(3) A point of collection of pools or ponds of water;
(4) A point of concentration of quantities of gasoline, oil or other flammable or explosive materials as evidenced by odor;
(5) One which has areas of confinement which cannot be operated from the inside, such as trunks, hoods and the like;
(6) So situated or located that there is a danger of it falling or turning over;
(7) One which is a point of collection of garbage, food waste, animal waste or any other rotten or putrefaction of matter of any kind;
(8) One which has sharp parts thereof which are jagged or contain sharp edges of metal or glass; or
(9) Any other vehicle specifically declared a health and safety hazard and a public nuisance by the Town Council.
(Ord. passed 3-17-2009)