(a) Definitions. “Junk motor vehicle” shall mean any motor vehicle meeting the following criteria as determined by the Director of Public Safety:
(1) Any motor vehicle left on private or public property for more than seventy- two (72) hours; and
(2) That is three (3) years or older; and
(3) That is extensively damaged, including, but not limited to, deflated or missing tires, broken body parts, broken or missing windows, missing all or part of an engine or transmission, or is otherwise in the determination of the Director of Public Safety apparently inoperable; and
(4) In the determination of the Director of Public Safety, the vehicle has a fair market value of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) or less.
(5) Expired plates. (Ord. 16-15. Passed 9-24-15.)
(b) The presence of a junk motor vehicle on any public or private land within the City of Uhrichsville is hereby deemed a public nuisance.
(c) The Director of Public Safety and the officers of the Uhrichsville Police Department are authorized to investigate complaints, inspect, serve notice, and remove junk motor vehicles in accordance with this section.
(d) The Director of Public Safety is authorized to determine and declare, in his or her discretion, that a motor vehicle is a junk motor vehicle as defined within this section.
(e) Upon a declaration by the Director of Public Safety that a junk motor vehicle is located on any public or private land, the Director of Public Safety shall cause a notice to be served upon the owner of the junk motor vehicle, or upon the owner of the lands upon which such a vehicle is found, that the junk motor vehicle will be removed and destroyed after ten (10) days of service of the notice unless the owner removes the vehicle or requests an administrative hearing appealing the determination of the Director of Public Safety.
(f) Administrative appeals requested in accordance with this section shall be perfected by filing a Notice of Appeal with the Uhrichsville Clerk of Council within ten (10) days of service of the notice required in subsection (e) hereof. Council shall hold a hearing on the appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting, or as soon after as Council shall determine is reasonable. The Declaration of the Director of Public Safety declaring a motor vehicle a junk motor vehicle may only be reversed by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of Council members in attendance.
(g) Costs incurred by the City in abating and removing junk motor vehicles shall be borne by the owner of the junk motor vehicle or the owner of the lands upon where such a vehicle is found.
(h) The Director of Public Safety and the officers of the Uhrichsville Police Department are authorized to dispose of any removed junk motor vehicle by any reasonable means, including disposal of the vehicle to a salvage or scrap dealer. Any funds obtained by the City for the disposal of the junk motor vehicle shall be deposited in the City’s General Fund.
(Ord. 19-09. Passed 7-23-09.)