(A) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(B) Words used in the present tense shall include the future; words in the singular number shall include the plural number, and the plural the singular; the word “shall” is mandatory and the word “may” is permissive.
ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE. A vehicle that:
(1) Is left on public grounds or county-owned property in violation of a law or ordinance prohibiting parking;
(2) Is left for longer than 24 hours on property owned or operated by the county;
(3) Is left for longer than two hours on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant or lessee of the property; or
(4) Is left for longer than seven days on public grounds.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The Board of Commissioners of Pasquotank County, North Carolina.
COUNTY. Pasquotank County, North Carolina.
HEALTH HAZARD. An abandoned or junked motor vehicle shall be declared to be a HEALTH HAZARD when its condition is such that the motor vehicle can or does harbor diseases, furnish shelter and breeding places for mosquitoes and other insects, or become a breeding ground and harbor for rats and other pests.
JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE. A vehicle that does not display a current license plate and that:
(1) Is partially dismantled or wrecked;
(2) Cannot be self-propelled or moved in the manner in which it was intended to move; or
(3) Is more than five years old and appears to be worth less than $100.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Includes any machine designed or intended to travel over land or water by self-propulsion or while attached to a self-propelled vehicle.
NUISANCE VEHICLE. A motor 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 or other insects, or a breeding ground or harbor for rats or other pests;
(2) A point of heavy growth of weeds or other noxious vegetation eight or more inches in height;
(3) A point of collection of pools or ponds of water;
(4) A point of concentration of combustible items such as gasoline, oil, other flammable or explosive materials including but not limited to boxes, paper, old clothes, rags, refuse or any other combustible materials or objects of alike nature;
(5) One which has parts thereof which may fall and injure members of the public, or one which may have parts which fall or be closed and become an area of confinement which may not be released for opening from the inside;
(6) One which is so situated and located that there is a danger of the vehicle falling, rolling, turning over or creating an unsafe movement such as unattended, blocked or jacked vehicles;
(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 parts thereof which are jagged or contain sharp edges of metal or glass; or
(9) Any other vehicle specifically declared a health and safety hazard and a public nuisance by the Board of Commissioners.
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE LIKE.
(1) Whenever reference is made to a particular officer, employee, department or agency, without further qualification, it shall be construed to be followed by the words “of Pasquotank County,” unless otherwise specifically provided.
(2) A reference to an officer shall include the officer’s designated representative.
SAFETY HAZARD. An abandoned or junked motor vehicle shall be declared to be a SAFETY HAZARD when its condition is such that the motor vehicle’s areas of confinement, which cannot be opened from the inside, such as trunk compartments and engine compartments or glass, windows or any exterior or interior fixtures present physical dangers to the safety and well-being of children or other persons.
(Ord. 93-3, passed 3-8-1993; Ord. 00-01, passed 3-6-2000)