[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Rothschild 6-11-1984 (Sec. 6.14 of the 1967 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any vehicle left unattended for more than 48 hours on any
public street or grounds, or for more than 30 days on private property,
is deemed abandoned and constitutes a public nuisance after notification
thereof by the Police Department. Should the vehicle not be deemed
abandoned under this chapter by the Police Department, if left unattended
on private property, it shall be out of public view, by permission
of the owner or lessee.
[Amended 5-8-2023]
Any motor vehicle that has been wrecked or damaged in such
a manner that it cannot be safely or legally operated is a junked
motor vehicle.
A vehicle which is self-propelled, a trailer or semitrailer
designed for use with such vehicle, and including a snowmobile.
A.
No person shall leave any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or
travel trailer unattended on any Village street or private or public
property for such time and under such circumstances as to cause the
vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned.
B.
Any vehicle in violation of this section shall be impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of under Subsection C, except that if a duly authorized Village representative determines that the cost of towing and service charges for the impoundment would exceed the value of the vehicle, the vehicle may be junked by the Village prior to expiration of the impoundment upon determination by the Chief of Police of the Village that the vehicle is not wanted for evidence or other reason.
C.
Any Village police officer who discovers any motor vehicle, trailer,
semitrailer or travel trailer on any Village street or private or
public property that has been abandoned shall cause the vehicle to
be removed to a suitable place of impoundment.
(1)
The owner of an abandoned vehicle, except a stolen vehicle, is responsible
for the abandonment and all costs of impounding and disposing of the
vehicle. Costs not recovered from the sale of the vehicle may be recovered
in a civil action by the Village against the owner.
(2)
Any abandoned vehicle that is determined by a duly authorized municipal
representative to have a value in excess of $100 shall be retained
in storage for a period of 14 days after certified mail notice has
been sent to the owner and lienholders of record, if the name and
whereabouts of the owner or lienholder can be readily ascertained,
to permit reclamation of the vehicle after payment of accrued charges.
Such notice shall set forth the year, make, model, and serial number
of the abandoned motor vehicle and the place where the vehicle is
being held and shall inform the owner and any lienholders of their
right to reclaim the vehicle. The notice shall state that the failure
of the owner or lienholders to exercise their right to reclaim the
vehicle under this section shall be deemed a waiver of all right,
title, and interest in the vehicle and a consent to the sale of the
vehicle. Each retained vehicle not reclaimed by its owner or lienholder
may be sold. The Village may dispose of the vehicle by sale at public
auction. A Class 2 notice of the auction shall be published. It may
be conducted by any Village employee. The purchaser shall have 10
days to remove the vehicle from the storage area but shall pay a storage
fee set by the Village Board for each day the vehicle remains in storage
after the second business day subsequent to the sale date. Ten days
after the sale, the purchaser shall forfeit all interest in the vehicle
and the vehicle shall be deemed to be abandoned and the vehicle may
be sold again.
(3)
Any abandoned vehicle that is determined by a duly authorized Village
representative to have a value of less than $100 may be disposed of
by direct sale to a licensed salvage dealer upon determination that
the vehicle is not reported stolen.
A.
No disassembled, partially disassembled, inoperable, unlicensed,
junked or wrecked motor vehicle, truck body, tractor, trailer or travel
trailer shall be stored or allowed to remain upon public or private
property within the Village for a period exceeding 48 hours if upon
public property or for a period exceeding 14 days if upon private
property.
B.
Whenever the Police Department shall find any such vehicle placed or stored in the open upon public property within the Village, it may cause such vehicle to be removed by a junk or salvage yard and stored in such junk or salvage yard. The vehicle shall be disposed of pursuant to the provisions of § 520-2C(2) and (3) of this chapter.
C.
Whenever the Police Department shall find any vehicle described herein placed or stored in the open upon private property within the Village, it shall notify the owner of property on which said vehicle is stored of the violation of this section. If the vehicle is not removed within five days, the Police Department may cause such vehicle to be removed to a junk or salvage yard. The vehicle shall be disposed of pursuant to the provisions of § 520-2C(2) and (3) of this chapter.
D.
Any person who shall be adjudicated to have violated any of the provisions
of this section shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than
$10 nor more than $50, plus costs of the prosecution, and upon default
of payment of such forfeiture and costs shall be imprisoned in the
Marathon County jail until such forfeiture and costs are paid, but
not to exceed 10 days. Each day that a violation of this section continues
shall be deemed a separate offense.
