Borough of Wilkinsburg, PA Vehicles, Junked

Includes any motor vehicle in such state of disrepair as to be incapable of being moved on its own power, or with any tire missing, or with one or more wheels missing, or in a dismantled or partially dismantled condition, or without a current license plate, or without a current inspection sticker.

JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE TRAILER

Includes any trailer designed for attachment to motor vehicles for purposes of transportation of persons or goods, where such trailer is in such state of disrepair as to have any tire missing, or with one or more wheels missing, or in a dismantled or partially dismantled condition, or without a current license plate.

NUISANCE IN FACT

Any acts which pose any public danger, inconvenience or distraction or which does not promote the public health, welfare and safety.

PREMISES or PROPERTY

A zoning lot as defined in Chapter 260, Zoning.

§ 250-2 Outdoor storage on lots.

The outdoor storage or parking of two or more junked motor vehicles or junked motor vehicle trailers, or any combination thereof, for a period of 10 consecutive days, on any zoning lot where said storage is not a permitted use within the Borough of Wilkinsburg, is prohibited.

§ 250-3 Outdoor storage on streets or public property.

The outdoor storage or parking of any junked motor vehicle or junked motor vehicle trailer on any street or public property for a period of more than 24 hours is prohibited.

§ 250-4 Notice.

The borough shall notify the owners of the private property where such junked motor vehicles and junked motor vehicle trailers are unlawfully stored, directing that the same be removed within 10 days of such notice. Notice may be given either by regular first class United States mail, by certified or registered mail, by personal service or by posting the premises.

If such junked motor vehicles or junked motor vehicle trailers are nuisances in fact and are not so removed within the notice period, the borough shall cause the same to be done. All costs and expenses of such removal, together with a penalty of 15%, shall be charged against the owner of the property from which the junked motor vehicles and junked motor vehicle trailers were removed.

Should the said charges not be paid when due, the Manager shall certify the same to the Borough Solicitor, who shall file a municipal lien and claim thereafter in the Prothonotary's Office of Allegheny County.

§ 250-5 Exceptions.

The provisions of §§ 250-2 and 250-4 of this chapter shall not apply to properties in districts where such storage and parking are otherwise lawful under the said Chapter 260, Zoning, and shall further not apply where approval is or has been obtained for the temporary outdoor storage of damaged vehicles awaiting repair or vehicles offered for sale under the provisions of said Chapter 260, Zoning.

§ 250-6 Removal by borough.

As to such junked motor vehicles or trailers parked or stored on streets or public property, the same may be removed forthwith by the Chief of Police, or any person or police officer acting by or under the authority of the borough. The costs and expenses of such removal and subsequent charges shall be charged to the owner of such vehicle.

§ 250-7 Violations and penalties.

In addition to the remedies set forth above, any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon summary conviction thereof before any magistrate, pay a fine in an amount not exceeding $1,000, together with costs of prosecution, and, in default of the payment of the fine and costs, shall be subject to imprisonment in the Allegheny County jail or workhouse for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues to exist shall be considered a separate offense and may be punishable as such.

The Borough may institute proceedings under this section by the issuance of a "notice of violation letter," assessing a civil penalty ranging from $10 to $1,000 for each offense, and provide the parties in violation of said Code section the opportunity to abate the violation and pay said civil penalty in lieu of the institution of proceedings and the imposition of the other stated penalties set forth herein.

[Added 5-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2892]

§ 250-8 Rights not broadened or enlarged.

The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed in any way so to broaden or enlarge the rights of private property owners for the storage or maintenance of junked motor vehicles and junked motor vehicle trailers.