For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
"ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE." A motor vehicle as defined in G.S. § 160A-303(b) that:
(1) Has been left upon a street or highway in violation of a law or ordinance prohibiting parking;
(2) Is left on property owned or operated by the town for longer than 24 hours;
(3) Is left on private property without the consent of the owner, occupant, or lessee thereof for longer than two hours;
(4) Is left on any public street or highway for longer than seven days or is determined by law enforcement to be a hazard to the motoring public;
(5) Is moored, anchored, or otherwise located for more than 30 consecutive days in any 180-consecutive day period in any waters or marshes waterward of the pierhead line as established by the Town of Wrightsville Beach; or
(6) Is designed to float, is in danger of sinking, has sunk, is resting on the bottom, or is located such that it is a hazard to navigation or in an immediate danger to other vessels. Shipwrecks, vessels, cargoes, tackle and other underwater archeological remains that have been in place for more than ten years shall not be considered abandoned motor vehicles and shall not be removed under the provisions of this section without the approval of the Department of Cultural Resources, which is the legal custodian of these properties pursuant to G.S. § 121-22 and G.S. § 121-23.
"HEALTH OR SAFETY HAZARD VEHICLE." A motor vehicle as described in G.S. § 160A-303 that has, for a period of more than 48 hours, been in a state of disrepair and is incapable of being moved under its own power and is found to be a breeding ground or harbor for mosquitoes or other insects, snails, rats, or vermin of any kind; a point of heavy growth of weeds or grass over eight inches in height; a point of accumulation of stagnant water; a point of concentration of gasoline, oil, or other flammable or explosive materials; is so located that there is danger of the vehicle falling or turning over; a source of danger for children through entrapment in areas of confinement that cannot be opened from the inside or from exposed surfaces of metal, glass or other rigid material; or in any other condition detrimental to the public health or safety.
"JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE." An abandoned motor vehicle as described hereinabove that also is partially dismantled or wrecked; cannot be self- propelled or moved in the manner in which it was originally intended to move; is more than five years old and worth less than $100; or does not display a current license plate.
(Am. Ord. 1785, passed 5-9-19)