For the purpose of this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings ascribed to them respectively.
“ABANDONED-VEHICLE.”
(1) A vehicle located on public property illegally;
(2) A vehicle left on public property without being moved for 24 hours;
(3) A vehicle located on public property in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a public right-of-way;
(4) A vehicle that has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of that property for more than 48 hours;
(5) A vehicle from which the engine, transmission, or differential has been removed or that is otherwise partially dismantled or inoperable and left on public property;
(6) A vehicle that has been removed by a towing service or a public agency upon request of an officer enforcing a statute or an ordinance other than this chapter if the impounded vehicle is not claimed or redeemed by the owner or the owner’s agent within 20 days after the vehicle’s removal;
(7) A vehicle that is at least three model years old, is mechanically inoperable, and j is left on private property continuously in a location visible from public property for more than 20 days. For the purposes of this section, a vehicle covered by a tarpaulin or other plastic, vinyl, rubber, cloth, or textile covering is considered to be visible;
(8) A vehicle that was repaired or stored at the request of the owner; that has not been claimed by the owner; and for which the reasonable value of the charges associated with the repair or storage remain unpaid more than 30 days after the date on which the repair work is completed or the vehicle is first stored. (IC 9-13-2-1)
“APPARENTLY INOPERABLE VEHICLE.” Missing wheels, motors, tires, transmission, or other major parts that affect operability. Also may include a vehicle that is so extensively damaged it cannot be self-propelled or moved in the manner in which it was originally intended to move.
“AUTOMOBILE SCRAPYARD.” A business organized for the purpose of scrap metal processing, vehicle wrecking, or operating a junkyard. (IC 9-13-2-8)
“BUREAU.” Unless otherwise indicated, refers to the bureau of motor vehicles. (IC 9-13-2-16)
“FISCAL BODY.” The common council. (IC 9-13-2-63)
“JUNK VEHICLE.” Any vehicle including travel trailers, mobile homes, motor homes, motorcycles, boats, buses, semi-trucks, trucks, semi-truck trailers, utility trailers, and other similar conveyances, which meets any of the following criteria:
(1) Is an apparently inoperable vehicle;
(2) Is without valid registration or current license plates;
(3) Is partially dismantled;
(4) Is a wrecked vehicle; or
(5) Has a fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.
“OFFICER.” Any regular member of the city police department. (IC 9-22-1-2(2))
“OWNER.” The last known record titleholder of a vehicle according to the records of the bureau under IC 9-17. (IC 9-13-2-121)
“PARTS.” Refers to all components of a vehicle that as assembled do not constitute a complete vehicle. (IC 9-13-2-122)
“PRIVATE PROPERTY.” All property other than public property. (IC 9-13-2-136)
“PUBLIC AGENCY.” A local agency given the responsibility by statute or ordinance for the removal, storage and disposal of abandoned vehicles. (IC 9-22-1-3)
“PUBLIC PROPERTY.” A public right-of-way, street, highway, alley, park, or other state, county, or municipal property. (IC 9-13-2-144)
“TOWING SERVICE.” A person that engages in moving or removing abandoned or disabled vehicles and, once the vehicles are moved or removed, stores or impounds the vehicles. (IC 9-13-2-179)
“VEHICLE.” An automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semi- trailer, tractor, bus, school bus, recreational vehicle, a trailer or semitrailer used in the transportation of watercraft, or motorized bicycle.
“WRECKED VEHICLE.” A Vehicle so extensively damaged that it cannot be self-propelled or move in the manner in which it was originally intended to move and/or has missing or extensively damaged window(s), missing wheels, motors, tires, transmission, or other major parts that affect operability.
(Ord. 13-05-12, passed 5-29-12)
Statutory reference:
For definition of “vehicle” under Indiana law, see IC 9-13-2-196(d)