[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Franklin Township 6-7-1990 as Ch. 10, Part 1, of the 1990 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Junkyards — See Ch. 96.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 160.
A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
LESSEE
Owner for the purpose of this chapter when the lessor holds the lessee responsible for maintenance and repairs.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any type of mechanical device, propelled by a motor, in which persons or property may be transported upon public or private streets or highways, and including trailers or semitrailers pulled thereby.
NUISANCE
Any condition, structure, or improvement which shall constitute a threat or potential threat to the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of Franklin Township.
OWNER
The actual owner, agent or custodian of the property on which motor vehicles are stored, whether individual or partnership, association, or corporation.
PERSON
A natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity.
B. 
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural; the plural shall include the singular; and the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter.
[Amended 7-2-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, or lessee to maintain a motor vehicle nuisance upon the open private grounds of such person, owner, or lessee within Franklin Township. A "motor vehicle nuisance" shall include any vehicle of any kind which is inoperable, or unable to move under its own power, or has no valid motor vehicle inspection sticker, or no current license plate, or no valid registration card, or is wrecked, or dismantled, or partially dismantled, or abandoned, or in a state of disrepair, meaning the condition of the vehicle is being worn out or in poor working order requiring repairs, or in a state of neglect or dilapidation at the time of the alleged violation or citation. Motor vehicle nuisances include but are not limited to any vehicle with:
(1) 
Broken windshields, mirrors or other glass with sharp edges.
(2) 
One or more flat or open tires or tubes which could permit vermin harborage.
(3) 
Missing doors, windows, hood, trunk or other body parts which could permit animal harborage.
(4) 
Any body parts with sharp edges, including holes resulting from rust.
(5) 
Missing tires resulting in unsafe suspension of the motor vehicle.
(6) 
Upholstery which is torn or open which could permit animal and/or vermin harborage.
(7) 
Broken headlamps or tail-lamps with sharp edges.
(8) 
Disassembled chassis parts apart from the motor vehicle stored in a disorderly fashion or loose in or on the vehicle.
(9) 
Protruding sharp objects from the chassis.
(10) 
Broken vehicle frame suspended from the ground in an unstable manner.
(11) 
Leaking or damaged oil pan or gas tank which could cause fire or explosion.
(12) 
Exposed battery containing acid.
(13) 
Inoperable locking mechanism for doors or trunk.
(14) 
Open or damaged floor boards, including trunk and firewall.
(15) 
Damaged bumpers pulled away from the perimeter of vehicle.
(16) 
Broken grill with protruding edges.
(17) 
Loose or damaged metal trim and clips.
(18) 
Broken communication equipment antennas.
(19) 
Suspended on unstable supports.
(20) 
Such other defects which could threaten the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Franklin Township.
B. 
Exceptions. Certain exceptions shall exist for a motor vehicle of any type which is undergoing a major overhaul, including body work, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designated and approved by the Township for said purposes. This must be an ongoing project and not one that lingers over a period of years.
A. 
Any person, owner or lessee who has one or more motor vehicle nuisances as defined in § 164-2 above may store such vehicle(s) in Franklin Township only in strict compliance with the regulations provided herein. Such person, owner or lessee must first apply for a permit for either temporary or permanent storage and pay a fee to Franklin Township such as may be provided from time to time by resolution of the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors. The motor vehicle nuisance(s) must be stored within a garage or other enclosed building or outside within an opaqued fence at least six feet high which is locked at all times when unattended. With the special approval of the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors motor vehicle nuisances may also be stored outside in an area enclosed by a chain link fence, at least six feet high, screened by shrubbery around the perimeter to the height of the fence, with an unobstructed gate capable of admitting fire or emergency equipment. Such gate shall remain locked at all times when unattended. In addition all gas and oil or other flammable liquid shall be removed from the motor vehicle and it shall be kept free of vermin infestation while being stored.
B. 
Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the storage of motor vehicle nuisances contrary to the provisions of Chapter 96, Junkyards and Junk Dealers.
A. 
The Franklin Township Code Enforcement Officer (the “Code Enforcement Officer”) is hereby empowered to inspect grounds on which motor vehicles are stored to determine if there is compliance with the provisions of this chapter. If noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter constitutes a nuisance, or if any condition, structure, or improvement poses a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the public, he shall issue a written notice to be served by registered or certified mail upon the owner of said premises, or, if the owner's whereabouts or identity be unknown, by posting the notice conspicuously upon the offending premises.
B. 
Said notice shall specify the condition or structure or improvement complained of, and shall require the owner to commence to remove or otherwise rectify the condition or structure or improvement as set forth therein within 10 days of mailing or posting of said notice, and thereafter, to fully comply with the requirements of the notice and the provisions of this chapter within a reasonable time.
If the owner of grounds on which motor vehicles are stored does not comply with the notice to abate conditions within the time limit prescribed, Franklin Township shall have the authority to take measures to correct the conditions and collect the cost of such corrections, plus 10% of all costs from the said owner. Franklin Township, or its duly authorized agent(s), in such event and pursuant to its statutory or otherwise authorized police powers, shall have the right and power to enter upon the offending premises to accomplish the foregoing. The Township shall thereafter have the right to collect the cost of such corrections, plus 10% penalty, plus reasonable costs and attorney's fees, from the owner(s), by filing a municipal claim against the subject property and owner(s), in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pertaining thereto, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
A. 
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Code Enforcement Officer may request and shall then be granted a hearing before the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors, provided that such aggrieved person files with the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors within 10 days after notice of the Code Enforcement Officer's decision, a written petition requesting such hearing and setting forth with particularity a statement of the grounds therefor.
B. 
The procedures governing such hearing shall, in all respects, be the same as those set forth in Chapter 64, Building Permits, of this Code, including the possibility of appeal from the decision of the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity, or any agent thereof, who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
The remedies provided herein for the enforcement of this chapter, or any remedy provided by law, shall not be deemed mutually exclusive; rather they may be employed simultaneously or consecutively, at the option of the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors.