(a) Storage of automobiles restricted. No disassembled, inoperable, unlicensed, junked, or wrecked motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors, trailers, farm machinery, vehicle parts, or tires, or appliances shall be stored upon private residential property or unenclosed within a building upon non-residential property within the village for a period exceeding ten days unless it is in connection with an authorized business enterprise located in a properly zoned area maintained in such a manner as to not constitute a public nuisance.
(b) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates, or requires, a different meaning.
DISASSEMBLED, INOPERABLE, JUNKED, OR WRECKED MOTOR VEHICLES, TRUCK BODIES, TRACTORS, TRAILERS. Motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, truck bodies, tractors, farm machinery, or trailers in such state of physical or mechanical ruin as to be incapable of propulsion, being operated upon the public streets or highways, or which is otherwise not in safe or legal condition for operation on public streets or highways due to missing or inoperative parts, flat or removed tires, expired or missing license plates, or other defects.
INOPERABLE APPLIANCE. Any stove, washer, refrigerator, or other appliance which is no longer operable in the sense for which it was manufactured.
MOTOR VEHICLE. As defined in Wis. Stats. § 340.01(35).
UNLICENSED MOTOR VEHICLES, TRUCK BODIES, TRACTORS, OR TRAILERS. Motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors, recreational vehicles, or trailers which do not bear lawful current license plates.
(c) Exceptions. This section shall not apply to any motor vehicle or motor vehicle accessories stored within an enclosed building or on the premises of a business enterprise operated in a lawful place and manner in a properly zoned area when necessary to the operation of such business enterprise, in a storage place or depository maintained in a lawful place and manner, or seasonal use vehicles such as snowmobiles, motorcycles, motor scooters, and nonmotorized campers, provided such vehicles are stored in compliance with the ordinances of the village. Also excepted are motor vehicles registered pursuant to Wis. Stats. §§ 341.265 and 341.266. In other situations the Village Board may issue temporary permits permitting an extension of not to exceed an additional 30 days’ time to comply with this section where exceptional facts and circumstances warrant such extension.
(d) Enforcement.
(1) Whenever the Village Board, its authorized designee, or a law enforcement officer, shall find any vehicles, vehicle parts, or tires, or appliances, as described herein, placed or stored in the open upon private property within the village, it shall notify the owner of said property on which said vehicle or appliance is stored of the violation of this section. If said vehicles, part thereof, or appliance is not removed within five days, the Village Board, its authorized designee, or a law enforcement officer, shall cause to be issued a citation to the property owner or tenant of the property upon which said vehicle or appliance is stored.
(2) If such vehicle or appliance is not removed within 20 days after issuance of a citation, the Village Board, its authorized designee, or a law enforcement officer, shall cause the vehicle or appliance to be removed and impounded, and it shall thereafter be disposed of as prescribed in §§ 10-5-3 through 10-5-6 by the Village Board, its authorized designee, or a law enforcement officer. Any cost incurred in the removal and sale of said vehicle or appliance shall be recovered from the owner. However, if the owner of the vehicle or appliance cannot readily be found, the cost of such removal shall be charged to the property from which it is removed, which charges shall be entered as a special charge on the tax roll.
(e) Penalty. Any person who shall interfere with the enforcement of any of the provisions of this section and shall be found guilty thereof shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-1-6. Each motor vehicle or appliance involved shall constitute a separate offense.
(Prior Code, § 10-5-8)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see Wis. Stats. § 342.40