(a) For the purpose of this section, “inoperable motor vehicle” shall be defined as a motor vehicle which cannot legally be operated upon the public streets for one or more of the following reasons:
(1) Lacking major components;
(2) Lacking required safety equipment;
(3) Unlicensed, or having a licensed expired for more than 30 days;
(4) Apparently unsafe or hazardous to those inside or outside of the vehicle;
(5) Damaged beyond economic repair.
(b) No person having the right to the possession of any property shall permit an inoperable motor vehicle to remain parked in the open on such property for more than seventy-two hours.
(c) This section shall not apply to any person lawfully operating a junk yard, salvage yard or scrap metal processing facility. Likewise, it shall not apply to any lawful motor vehicle repair facility which is located in an appropriate zone, and which stores inoperable vehicles either 100 feet or more from residential areas and public streets or, in the alternative, screens such inoperable vehicles completely from public view.
(d) Nothing herein provided shall prohibit the open storage or keeping of an historic motor vehicle or a collector's vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4501.01, except that an unlicensed collector's vehicle shall be concealed from off-premises viewing by means of a building, fencing, vegetation, terrain or other suitable obstruction.
(e) Any motor vehicle found in violation of this section may be impounded by order of the Chief of Police; provided that prior thereto notice is sent to the person having the right to possession of the property on which the motor vehicle is found and requiring that the motor vehicle either be repaired, placed within a structure, or removed from the property within ten days, and noting that failure to do shall result in the motor vehicle being impounded. Such notice shall be either personally served or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. The ten-day period shall be calculated from the date of personal service or the date of mailing of the certified mail.
(f) Any unclaimed motor vehicle impounded pursuant to this section shall be disposed of in accordance with law.
(g) Whoever continues to violate this section after having been issued a warning pursuant hereto shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 97-315. Passed 9-9-97.)