(a) For the purposes of this section, "junk motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle meeting the requirements of Ohio R.C. 4513.63(B) to (E) that is left uncovered in the open on private property for more than seventy-two hours with the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property, except if the person is operating a junk yard or scrap metal processing facility licensed under authority of Ohio R.C. 4737.05 to 4737.12; or regulated under authority of the Municipality; or if the property on which the motor vehicle is left is not subject to licensure or regulation by any governmental authority, unless the person having the right to the possession of the property can establish that the motor vehicle is part of a bona fide commercial operation, or if the motor vehicle is a collector's vehicle.
Persons may store or keep by unrestricted method any collector's vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4501.01(F) on private property with the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property; except that such person having such permission shall conceal, by means of buildings, fences, vegetation, terrain or other suitable obstruction, any unlicensed collector's vehicle stored in the open.
(c) Any person not complying with a Notice To Remove a junk motor vehicle or an improperly stored vehicle issued by the Chief of Police shall be in violation of this ordinance and the vehicle shall be removed by the Village of Middleport at the order of the Chief of Police
Such vehicles will be released to the owner upon the payment of necessary and reasonable towing and storage fees together with any other proper fines levied against the owner thereof. Violations of this ordinance are subject to minor misdemeanor charges.
(d) If the vehicle is not claimed by the owner after 30 calendar days, the vehicle shall be disposed of at the reasonable discretion of the Chief of Police and any and all money received for the dispossession shall be deposited into the General Fund.
Notice of this intended disposition shall be sent to the titled owner, if one exists, or to the address from which the vehicle was removed, at least ten (10) days before the disposition. The owner of the vehicle may, within thirty (30) days after the disposition date and upon verification of ownership, apply to receive any monies remaining after payment of all fines and disposal, towing and storage costs associated with this vehicle. If no such application is made within 30 days of disposal, any remaining funds shall become the property of the Village of Middleport.
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 77-12. Passed 10-8-12.)