[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Medford 4-20-1981 by Ord. No. 1981-5. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The following terms, phrases and words as used
in and for the purpose of this chapter shall be deemed to have the
following meanings:
An automobile or vehicle of any type which is unregistered,
or any vehicle, whether registered or not, that is in an inoperable
condition or unfit for use on any public highway, standing or located
on any property in the Township of Medford. Vehicles being restored
are exempt under this definition.
[Amended 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
Shall have the meaning as stated and defined in N.J.S.A.
39:1-1 et seq.
Any individual, firm, partnership or corporation being the
owner or having any legal right in, of or to the vehicle or automobile
as herein defined.
[Amended 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon,
keep, store, locate, or suffer or permit the keeping, abandonment
or storage of any inoperable vehicle or vehicles, as defined herein,
out of doors upon any public or private lands in the Township of Medford
or any public streets thereof. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit
the placing, keeping or storage of any such vehicle in an enclosed
garage, barn or other building, or under cover. Vehicles undergoing
restoration must be covered if parked in a front yard and/or driveway.
[Amended 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
If any inoperable vehicle or vehicles, as defined herein, shall be abandoned, kept, located or stored on roadways or private lands in the Township of Medford for a period of more than 72 hours, it shall be presumed that the owner or tenant in possession of said land or property has abandoned, kept, located or stored at his property, or permitted or suffered it to be abandoned, kept, located or stored on said property, and the owner of said property shall be responsible for the violation in accordance with § 137-2 hereof.
[Amended 11-8-2005, by Ord. No. 2005-21; 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
A.Â
The Township Manager, through the Zoning Official
and the Police Department, shall enforce the provisions of this chapter,
hereinafter referred to as "enforcing official."
B.Â
Upon discovery of an alleged violation of this chapter,
the enforcing official shall serve written notice, either by personal
service or certified mail, return receipt requested, on the owner
of the vehicle and/or property where the violation has occurred, ordering
the removal of said vehicle within five days of the date of said notice.
The notice shall include notification that if the vehicle is not removed,
a summons and/or complaint will be issued. In the event said vehicle
is not removed prior to five days from the date of said notice, the
enforcing official shall cause a summons and/or complaint to be issued.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be
applicable to automobile repair shops, auto body shops or service
stations to the extent that these uses are regulated concerning inoperable
and/or unregistered vehicles awaiting repair as set forth in the Medford
Township Development Ordinance.[1]
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity
convicted of a violation of this chapter or any section thereof shall
be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the sentencing
court. Each day that such violation shall continue shall be deemed
a separate offense or violation, and each vehicle, if there be more
than one, shall constitute a separate offense herein. In addition
to any fine imposed hereunder, the court may order the removal of
said vehicle, at the owner's sole expense.
