[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Deerfield
2-15-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-1 as Ch. 114 of the 1984 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 188.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Includes any motor vehicle, omnibus, road tractor, trailer, truck,
truck tractor and vehicle which:
Is parked without the current year's registration or identification
markers as required by law.
Is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and the driver
or person owning or in charge thereof neglects or refuses to move the same
to a place where it will not obstruct traffic.
Is found to be mechanically inoperative.
Shall have the meanings given them in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 et seq.
It shall be unlawful for any person, either as owner, occupant, lessee,
agent, tenant or otherwise of any private property within the Township, to
store or deposit or cause or permit to be stored or deposited an abandoned,
junked, discarded or unlicensed motor vehicle upon any private land or to
abandon such vehicle on any public roads within the Township.
A.Â
If the provisions of § 184-2 are violated, the Township Committee or any person authorized by the Township Committee shall serve written notice, either personally or by mail, on the owner, occupant or person having charge of any such private property or on the owner of the vehicle abandoned on a public road to comply with the provisions of this section. The Township Committee may determine ownership of any parcel of land from the current tax rolls of the Township and may serve written notice on such owner by regular mail.
B.Â
In case of vehicles found on a public road, the address
of the owner as shown on the records of the State Division of Motor Vehicles
shall be deemed sufficient for the purposes of this section.
C.Â
The notice shall provide a date within which the vehicle
must be removed. The minimum time allowed for removal shall be 10 days from
the date of notice.
A.Â
In the event the motor vehicle is not removed, the Township
Committee is authorized to direct any garage personnel with the facilities
for removal of such vehicle to move it to a garage or place designated for
the impounding of such vehicles. The vehicle shall be retained and impounded
until the person owning it shall pay the reasonable costs of the removal and
storage before regaining possession of the vehicle.
B.Â
Whenever any vehicle is impounded, the Township Committee
shall, within 15 days from the date of impoundment, notify the registered
owner, in writing, by personal service or by certified mail, at the last known
address of the owner, of the removal of such vehicle, the reason for its removal
and the location of the vehicle.
Whenever any vehicle impounded by the Township Committee remains unclaimed
for a period of 30 days, the vehicle shall be sold under the direction of
the Township Committee at public or private sale. The expenses incurred in
hauling, towing or otherwise transporting the vehicle to the place of storage
shall be the responsibility of the person buying such vehicle. In the event
that no purchaser is found within 45 days from the date the vehicle was impounded,
the vehicle shall be removed and/or destroyed. The expenses incurred by the
Township shall be assessed against the property owner and shall constitute
a lien thereon and be collected as provided by law.