[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Stafford 3-19-1985 by Ord. No. 85-37. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Added 9-2-1997 by Ord. No. 97-78[1]]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes all motor vehicles which have outlived their usefulness
in original form and are not currently in the process of being converted,
altered or restored.
Includes motorcycles, motorbikes, bicycles with a motor attachment
and all motor-operated vehicles of the bicycle- or tricycle-type,
whether the mode of power be a part thereof or attached thereto, and
having a saddle or seat with driver sitting astride, upon it or a
platform on which the driver stands.
Includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular
power, including but not limited to omnibus, road tractor, trailer,
truck, truck tractor or automobile.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon a motor
vehicle on or along any public street or road or any public lands
or place within the Township of Stafford.
B.
No person shall park or leave unattended a vehicle
on private property without the consent of the owner or other person
in control or possession of the property for a period in excess of
that for which the consent was given, except in the case of emergency
or disablement of the vehicle, in which case, the owner or operator
thereof shall arrange for the expeditious removal of the vehicle.
A vehicle which has remained on or along any
highway or other public property or on private property without the
consent of the owner or other person in charge of the private property
for a period of more than 48 hours, or for any period without current
license plates, shall be presumed to be an abandoned motor vehicle.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, possessor or occupant
of land in a residential zone in the township, with the exception
of legal commercial nonconforming uses located therein, to store,
place or permit to be stored or placed upon such land, other than
in an enclosed building or in a duly licensed junk yard operated pursuant
to all applicable regulations of the Township, any motor vehicles,
motorcycles and junk motor vehicles or junk motor vehicle bodies so
in need of repair as to render them incapable of being readily operated
under their own power or motor vehicles, motorcycles and junk motor
vehicles or junk motor vehicle bodies not currently licensed or any
parts of any such motor vehicles, motorcycles and junk motor vehicles
or junk motor vehicle bodies.
B.
In the event that a junk motor vehicle is in the process
of being converted, altered or restored, said conversion, alteration
or restoration shall not exceed the period of 60 days. The Director
of Community Development shall have the authority to grant a maximum
of three successive sixty-day extensions for good cause shown.
[Added 9-2-1997 by Ord. No. 97-78]
[Added 9-2-1997 by Ord. No. 97-78; amended 4-18-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-31]
A.
Upon complaint of any resident or property owner of
the Township, or upon his own motion, the Zoning Officer, police officer
or other authorized Township official shall make an investigation
of the condition complained of and if it appears that a violation
of one or more of the provisions of this chapter exists on the land,
the Zoning Officer, police officer or other authorized Township official
shall notify the owner, possessor or occupant of the land in writing
of such violation, which notice shall require the abatement of the
violation within 10 days from the date of service of such notice.
B.
Such notice shall be served personally upon the owner,
possessor or occupant of the land by handing a copy of it to the person
or by leaving it at his usual place of abode with some member of his
household over the age of 14 years; but if any such owner or possessor
resides outside the Township, the notice shall be served upon him
by registered or certified mail, addressed to him at his usual residence
if the same is ascertainable; otherwise, such owner shall be served
by notice published in the official newspaper of the Township.
If an owner, possessor or occupant of lands fails or refuses to abate the violation within 10 days from the date of receipt of the publication of the notice provided for in § 199-6, the Township, through its Zoning Officer, Police Department or other authorized official of the Township, may serve said owner, possessor or occupant the summons for violating the within chapter.
If the owner, possessor or occupant of the lands
is adjudged by the Municipal Court of the Township of Stafford to
have violated this chapter, the Township, through its servants, agents
or employees, at the direction of the court, may enter upon the lands
and premises for the purpose of removing such motor vehicle or parts
thereof. The Township shall take possession of any such motor vehicle
and proceed to dispose of it in accordance with the provisions of
N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 et seq.
[Amended 11-11-1986 by Ord. No. 86-55; 2-21-1989 by Ord. No. 89-22]
A.
Any person violating or failing to comply with any
of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof,
be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, by imprisonment for
a term not to exceed 90 days or by community service of not more than
90 days, or any combination of fine, imprisonment and community service
as determined in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge. The
continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute
a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting
the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above
for each separate offense.
B.
The violation of any provision of this chapter shall
be subject to abatement summarily by a restraining order or injunction
issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
