For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED VEHICLE. As authorized and defined in G.S. § 160A-303, an ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE is one that:
(1) Is left upon a public street or highway in violation of a law or ordinance prohibiting parking; or is left on a public street or highway for longer than seven days; or is left on property owned or operated by the city for longer than 24 hours; or
(2) Is left on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant or lessee thereof, for longer than two hours.
AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL. The supervisory employee of the Police Department or the City Manager, or his or her designee, respectively designated to authorize the removal of vehicles under the provisions of this chapter.
CAR COVER. Made of a material and type that is specifically designed to cover a vehicle or shall be a tarp of a neutral color which shall cover the vehicle entirely, and shall remain in good repair and shall not be allowed to deteriorate. COVERS shall be the colors of dark green, brown, grey, tan or other neutral, earth tone colors.
JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE. As authorized and defined in G.S. § 160A-303.2, a JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE is one that does not display a current license plate lawfully and that:
(1) Is partially dismantled or wrecked;
(2) Cannot be self-propelled or moved in a 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. Any machine designed or intended to travel over land or water by self-propulsion or while attached to a self-propelled vehicle.
NUISANCE MOTOR VEHICLE. A vehicle on public or private property that is determined and declared to be a health or safety hazard, a public nuisance, 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 trucks, 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 putrescible matter of any kind;
(8) One which has sharp parts which are jagged or contain sharp edges of metal, glass or other rigid materials;
(9) One which creates any circumstances which expose the general public to a safety or health hazard; or
(10) Any other vehicle specifically declared a health safety hazard and a public nuisance by the City Council.
(Code 2019, § 13-58) (Ord. passed 10-10-2011)