The Borough Council of the Borough of Punxsutawney expressly recognizes
and finds that the accumulation of junked vehicles creates a hazard or threat
or potential threat to the health, safety or welfare of the Borough's
citizens because such accumulation provides a breeding area for rodents and
vermin and because such accumulation provides an attractive nuisance for children
who are not aware of the dangers involved.
For purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall be applicable:
JUNKED MOTOR VEHICLE
A motor vehicle or trailer which is partially dismantled, unused,
unusable or wrecked and which cannot safely or legally be operated on the
streets or highways of this Borough or Commonwealth. Currently licensed, registered
and inspected vehicles shall not be included within this definition.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any self-propelled land vehicle which can be used for towing or transporting
people or materials, including but not limited to automobiles, trucks, buses,
motor homes, motorized campers, motorcycles, motor scooters, tractors, snowmobiles,
dune buggies and other off-the-road vehicles.
PERSON
Includes any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation
or other legal entity of whatever kind.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Any real property not owned by the federal government, state, county,
school district or other political subdivisions.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
The unsheltered storage of a junked motor vehicle as otherwise defined
in this chapter which constitutes a hazard or threat or potential threat to
the health, safety or welfare of the Borough's citizens.
REMOVAL
The physical location or relocation of a motor vehicle to an authorized
location.
TRAILER
Any wheeled device used as a means of carrying, hauling or conveying
any vehicle, person, animal, boat or other object.
UNSHELTERED STORAGE
Any storage except storage inside a building or in an area completely
surrounded by a solid fence of a height not less than the height of the motor
vehicle or trailer being sheltered.
The Building Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer, on routine inspection
or upon receipt of a complaint, may enter upon private property to investigate
a suspected junked motor vehicle or motor vehicle accessories stored or maintained
in violation of this chapter and record the make, model, style and identification
numbers and its situation and condition.
Whenever the Building Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer or any member
of his department finds or is notified that any junked motor vehicle or motor
vehicle accessories have been stored or permitted to remain on any private
property or public street or highway within the Borough and in violation of
the provisions of this chapter, the Building Inspector or Code Enforcement
Officer shall send, by certified or registered mail, a notice to the owner
of record or person having custody of such motor vehicle or accessories, if
such owner can be ascertained by the exercise of reasonable diligence, and
also to the owner of the private property, as shown on the tax assessment
records of the Borough, on which the same is located, to remove the junked
motor vehicle, trailer or motor vehicle accessories within 30 days. Such notice
shall contain the following additional information:
B. A description and the location of the motor vehicle and/or
motor vehicle accessories.
C. A statement that the motor vehicle or motor vehicle accessories
shall be removed from the premises no later than 30 days from the date of
notification.
D. A statement that removal from the location specified
in the notification to another location upon which such storage is not permitted
is prohibited and shall subject the person to additional penalties.
E. A statement that if removal is made within the time limits
specified, notification thereof shall be given, in writing, to the Building
Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer.
F. A statement of the penalties provided for noncompliance
with such notice.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon
conviction, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be sentenced to pay a
fine of not more than $300 and/or to be committed to the county jail for a
period not exceeding 30 days, plus costs of prosecution, and each day that
a violation is committed shall constitute a separate offense.