(a) As used in this section, “junk motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle which is three years old or older; extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any of the following: missing wheels, tires, motor or transmission; apparently inoperable; and having a fair market value of two hundred dollars ($200.00) or less, that is left uncovered in the open on private property for more than seventy-two hours with the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property, except if the person is operating a junk yard or scrap metal processing facility licensed under authority of Ohio R.C. 4737.05 to 4737.12; or regulated under the authority of the Municipality; or if the property on which the motor vehicle is left is not subject to licensure or regulation by any governmental authority, unless the person having the right to the possession of the property can establish that the motor vehicle is part of a bona fide commercial operation; or if the motor vehicle is a collector’s vehicle, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4501(F).
(b) No person shall be prevented from storing or keeping, or restricted in the method of storing or keeping, any collector’s vehicle on private property with the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property, except that a person having such permission may be required to conceal, by means of buildings, fences, vegetation, terrain or other suitable obstruction, any unlicensed collector’s vehicle stored in the open.
(c) The Chief of Police may send notice, by certified mail with return receipt requested to the person having the right to the possession of the property on which a junk motor vehicle is left, that within ten days of receipt of the notice, the junk motor vehicle either shall be covered by being housed in a garage or other suitable structure or shall be removed from the property.
(d) No person shall willfully leave a junk motor vehicle uncovered in the open for more than ten days after receipt of a notice as provided in this section. The fact that a junk motor vehicle is so left is prima-facie evidence of willful failure to comply with the notice, and each subsequent period of thirty days that a junk motor vehicle continues to be so left constitutes a separate offense. (ORC 4513.65)
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor, and shall also be assessed any costs incurred by the Municipality in disposing of such junk motor vehicle, less any money accruing to the Municipality from such disposal.
(Ord. 30-2000. Passed 5-22-00.)