For purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE. A motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that:
(1) Is left unattended on public property, other than a primary highway, for more than 48 hours;
(2) Has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the private property;
(3) Is left unattended on the shoulder of a primary highway.
AUTHORIZED COUNTY OFFICIAL. The County Administrator of Northampton County, acting in accordance with the Board of Supervisors, on her designees, who may be county personnel or firms or corporations who may be independent contractors authorized by him to remove, preserve store and dispose of abandoned, inoperable or unattended motor vehicles in accordance with this chapter and the applicable sections of the VA Code, as amended.
COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
DEMOLISHER. Any person or entity whose business is to convert motor vehicles into processed scrap or scrap metal or otherwise to wreck or dismantle such vehicles.
DEPARTMENT. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
INOPERABLE ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE. An abandoned motor vehicle which is inoperable and which the fair market value, as determined by the locality's official responsible for assessing motor vehicles under VA Code § 58.1-3503, is less than the cost of its restoration to an operable condition.
INOPERABLE MOTOR VEHICLE. Any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer:
(1) That is not in operating condition;
(2) For a period of 60 days or longer has been partially or totally disassembled by the removal of tires and wheels, the engine, or other essential parts required for operation of the vehicle; or
(3) On which there are displayed neither valid license plates nor a valid inspection decal.
SCRAP METAL PROCESSOR. Any person who is engaged in the business of processing motor vehicles into scrap for remelting purposes who, from a fixed location, utilizes machinery and equipment for processing and manufacturing ferrous and nonferrous metallic scrap into prepared grades, and whose principal product is metallic scrap.
SHIELDED or SCREENED. Hidden from sight, from any ground level location, by vegetation or fences.
UNATTENDED MOTOR VEHICLE. Any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or part of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that is:
(1) Left unattended on a public road or other public property and constitutes a traffic hazard;
(2) Illegally parked;
(3) Left unattended for more than ten days on public property; or on private property without the permission of the property owner, lessee or occupant; or
(4) Immobilized on a public roadway by weather conditions or other emergency situations.
VEHICLE REMOVAL CERTIFICATE. A transferable document issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for any abandoned motor vehicle that authorizes the removal and destruction of the vehicle.
(Ord. passed 11-19-2013)