(a) Location or Presence of Inoperable Motor Vehicles within the City Deemed Public Nuisance; Exceptions. The location or presence of any inoperable motor vehicle on any lot, tract, or parcel of land within the City shall be deemed a public nuisance, and no person or persons shall cause or maintain such public nuisance by abandoning or discarding their inoperable motor vehicle or vehicles on the property of another, or suffering, permitting or allowing the same to be placed, located or maintained upon their own real property unless it is in connection with a business enterprise operated in a lawful place and manner and licensed as such, when necessary to the operation of such business enterprise.
(b) Notice to Remove. Whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of the provisions of this section exists, the Property Maintenance Enforcement Officer and/or the Chief of Police shall give, or cause to be given, written notice to the registered owner of any motor vehicle that is in violation of this section, or to the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the private property upon which such motor vehicle is located, or to both the registered owner and the owner or person in lawful possession of such private property, by certified mail with return receipt or by personal service, that such motor vehicle violates the provisions of this section and that within five days, the motor vehicle is to be removed to a place of lawful storage or to be housed in a building where it will not be visible from the street.
(c) Removal by City. In addition to any other penalty prescribed in Chapter 1399, if the registered owner of any motor vehicle which is in violation of this section, or the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the private property upon which the same is located, fails, neglects or refuses to remove or house such inoperable motor vehicle in accordance with the notice given pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b), the Property Maintenance Enforcement Officer and/or the Chief of Police may remove and dispose of such motor vehicle as provided in Chapter 359.
(d) Right of Entry. The Property Maintenance Enforcement Officer and/or the Chief of Police, any contracting agent of the City, any employee of such contracting agent, and any authorized officer, employee or agent of the City, are expressly authorized to enter upon private property for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this section. No person shall interfere, hinder or refuse to allow them to enter upon private property for such purpose and to remove any inoperable motor vehicle pursuant to this section. Any person to whom notice was given pursuant to subsection (B) hereof shall have the right to remove or house such motor vehicle at his own expense at any time prior to the arrival of the Property Maintenance Enforcement Officer and/or the Chief of Police or his authorized representatives for the purpose of removal.
(Ord. 2014-02. Passed 3-24-14.)