(a) For the purpose of this section, “junk motor vehicle” defined as any motorvehicle that is not currently registered and operable, defined as being capable of operation on a public street and meeting all safety requirements for such operation that is left covered or uncovered in the open on private property for more than twenty-four consecutive 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 authority of the Municipality.
(b) No person shall willfully leave a junk motor vehicle with the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property on which the junk motor vehicle is left covered or uncovered in the open for more than twenty-four consecutive hours. Junk motor vehicles and collector vehicles, defined as any motor vehicle or agriculture tractor or traction engine that is of special interest, that has a fair market value of one hundred dollars or more, whether operable or not, and that is owned, operated, collected, preserved, restored, maintained, or used essentially as a collector's item, leisure pursuit, or investment, but not as the owner's principal means of transportation, pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4501.01(F) shall be covered by being housed in a garage or other suitable structure or shall be removed from the property.
(c) Council, the Chief of Police or the Municipal Zoning Authority, may send notice by regular mail with a certificate of mailing certified mail with return receipt requested, to the person having the right to the possession of the property to which a junk motor vehicle is left for more than twenty-four consecutive hours, that within five days of receipt of the notice, the junk motor vehicle either shall be housed in a garage or other suitable structure or be removed from the property. Notice may also be given by leaving a copy of the required notice at the residence of the person having the right to the possession of the property to which a junk motor vehicle is left for more than twenty-four consecutive hours, that within five days of receipt of the notice, the junk motor vehicle either shall be housed in a garage or other suitable structure or be removed from the property. The fact that a junk motor vehicle is so left is prima facie evidence of willful failure to comply with the notice.
(d) Each subsequent period of thirty days that a junk motor vehicle continues to be so left constitutes a separate offense.
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 4513.65)
(f) If, within three years of the offense, the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of this section, the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be fined no less than five hundred dollars but no more than one thousand dollars.
(Ord. 2021-O-18. Passed 12-13-21.)