For the purpose of this subchapter the following definitions shall apply:
ABANDONED VEHICLE. A vehicle that has been removed and impounded by a towing service or a public agency upon request of an officer enforcing this chapter and is not claimed or redeemed by the owner or the owner's agent within 20 days after the vehicle's removal from private property.
APPARENT INOPERABLE VEHICLE. A vehicle that is at least five model years old, is mechanically inoperable, is missing wheels, motors, tires, transmission, or other major parts that affect operability; and any other vehicle that is so damaged it cannot be self-propelled or moved from private property within the time limits provided in this subchapter.
AUTOMOBILE JUNKYARD. A business, legally zoned, permitted, and operated for the purpose of storing scrap metal processing, storing wrecked or inoperable vehicles, or operating a junkyard.
BUILDING MATERIALS. Any wooden materials, concrete, metal, glass, or other used materials formerly used for construction of buildings that are not in good or usable condition; not kept on the property in an orderly manner; or are not actively being used as part of a construction project with an approved building permit.
JUNK. Any article in any form consisting of any of the following enumerated discarded, abandoned, or cast-off materials. The term shall include, but not limited to paper, cardboard, rags, tin, metals, residue from burning, broken glass, clothing, rubber, plastics, synthetic substances and fabrics, bottles, building materials, automobile parts detached from the vehicle as whole, collection of 20 or more used tires, and household items not intended for exposure to rain and other inclement weather, which includes furniture, mattresses, and appliances.
JUNK VEHICLE. Any automobile, truck, or other equipment or device, which could be used upon a public street, including travel trailers, mobile homes, motor homes, motorcycles, boats, buses, trailers, and other similar equipment, which meet any of the following criteria:
(1) Is an apparent inoperable vehicle;
(2) Is without valid registration or current license plates;
(3) Is partially dismantled;
(4) Has been substantially damaged or wrecked; or
(5) Has a fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap value of the junk vehicle.
OPERABLE VEHICLE. Any vehicle which is properly registered and licensed and has no apparent damage which would prevent it from being operated on public streets.
PARTS. Shall refer to all components of a vehicle which are detached from the vehicle.
PRIVATE PROPERTY. All real estate in the unincorporated parts of Owen County, other than public property.
PUBLIC PROPERTY. A public right-of-way, street, highway, alley, park, or other state, county, or municipally owned or used by a government unit.
REAL PROPERTY OWNER. The owner of record of a parcel of land, as shown on the real property tax records in Owen County, Indiana.
RESIDENTIAL LOT. Any parcel of real property located in the unincorporated area of Owen County, which is zoned for residential use and is either included in a recorded, platted subdivision, or is less than one acre.
SHERIFF. Any regular member of the Owen County Sheriff’s Department.
TOWING SERVICE. A person or company that engages in moving or removing abandoned or disabled vehicles and/or once the vehicles are moved or removed, stores or impounds the vehicles.
VEHICLE. An automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semitrailer, tractor, bus, school bus, recreational vehicle, or a trailer or semitrailer used in the transportation of other vehicles, watercraft, or motorized bicycle. The term shall not include operable agricultural equipment located upon land zoned and used for agricultural purposes or operable construction equipment located on an active construction site authorized by a properly issued building permit or stored upon a parcel or real estate zoned for the storage of the construction equipment.
VEHICLE OWNER. The last known record title holder of a vehicle according to the records of the bureau under I.C. 9-18 or a Bill of Sale. If there is no Bill of Sale or other proof of ownership produced by the person in possession of the real estate, the vehicle owner shall be presumed to be the owner of the real estate where the vehicle is located.
(Ord. 2020-0023, passed 10-5-2020)