[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Steelton 6-18-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-3, approved 6-18-2001. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purposes of this chapter are as follows:
A. 
To prevent the storage of unlicensed and uninspected motor vehicles on private property, except such motor vehicles as are housed in a fully enclosed and secure structure, which vehicles are in such a condition as to create a hazard and danger to the health and welfare of the Borough citizens because:
(1) 
Such vehicles create an attractive nuisance for children, who are not aware of the dangers involved.
(2) 
Such vehicles may provide a breeding ground, home or haven for rodents, rats, vermin, mosquitoes, flies and other undesirable animals, reptiles or insects.
(3) 
Flammable materials stored in any such motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts pose a danger of injury to both the citizens of the Borough and the environment of the Borough.
(4) 
Such motor vehicles are often utilized to store lumber, garbage, rubbish or other materials that attract vermin, rodents, reptiles and insects.
B. 
To establish a program of regulation by permit over the storage on private property of unlicensed and uninspected motor vehicles so that the Borough may be apprised of their location and make appropriate inspections to determine that they do not constitute nuisances as prohibited by this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
LESSEE
An owner for the purpose of this chapter when the lessor holds the lessee responsible for maintenance and repairs of the leased premises.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any type of mechanical device, propelled by a motor, in which a person or persons or property may be transported upon public streets or highways when in operating condition, and includes trailers or semitrailers pulled thereby.
NUISANCE
Any condition which shall constitute a threat, or potential threat, or is prejudicial, to the public health, safety or welfare.
OWNER
The actual owner, agent or custodian of the property on which a motor vehicle or vehicles is/are stored, whether individual or partnership, association or corporation.
PERSON
A natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other legal entity.
It shall be unlawful for any person, owner or lessee to maintain a motor vehicle upon private property within the Borough of Steelton which does not have a current and/or valid state safety inspection (if required) or does not have a valid state registration plate and has any of the following physical defects which, individually or jointly, shall constitute a nuisance in fact:
A. 
Broken windshields, mirrors or other glass with sharp edges.
B. 
One or more flat or open tires or tubes which could permit vermin harborage.
C. 
Missing doors, windows, hood, trunk or other body parts which could permit animal harborage or sharp edges.
D. 
Any broken or bent body parts with sharp edges, including holes resulting from rust.
E. 
Missing tires resulting in unsafe suspension of the motor vehicle.
F. 
Upholstery which is torn and open to the outside which could permit animal and or vermin harborage.
G. 
Broken headlights or tail lamps with sharp edges.
H. 
Disassembled chassis apart from the motor vehicle stored in a disorderly fashion or loose in or on the vehicle.
I. 
Protruding sharp objects from the chassis.
J. 
Broken vehicle frame suspended from the ground in an unstable manner.
K. 
Leaking or damaged oil pan or gas tank which could cause fire, explosion or environmental hazard.
L. 
Exposed battery containing acid.
M. 
Inoperable locking mechanism for doors or trunks.
N. 
Open or damaged floor boards, including trunk and firewall.
O. 
Damaged bumpers pulled away from the perimeter of the vehicle constituting a protruding sharp edge or cutting surface.
P. 
Broken grill with protruding edges.
Q. 
Loose or damaged metal trim and clips constituting a potential cutting surface.
R. 
Suspended or unstable supports.
S. 
Broken or bent antennas constituting a protruding sharp edge or cutting surface.
T. 
Such other defects that could threaten the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Any person, owner or lessee who has one or more motor vehicle(s) as defined in § 111-3 above may be granted a temporary vehicle storage permit to temporarily store such vehicle(s) in the Borough of Steelton for the purpose of repairing such vehicles. Such permits are not automatically granted and may be denied if the Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police determine that there is too great a risk to public health or safety. Such permits are only granted in strict compliance with the regulations provided herein. Such person, owner or lessee must first apply, in writing, to the Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police for a temporary motor vehicle storage permit. Such application must set forth the location and description of the land on which said motor vehicle(s) are to be placed, the manner of storage, the length and purpose of storage and a complete description of the vehicle, including make, model, license plate number and/or vehicle identification number (VIN). A separate application is required for each vehicle for which a temporary permit is requested, along with a fee paid to the Borough of Steelton such as may be provided from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council. If said application is approved by the Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police, a temporary vehicle storage permit will be issued for each approved vehicle.
Each temporary motor vehicle storage permit will be valid for three consecutive months from the date of issue. The expiration date of the permit will be written on the permit by the Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police. A permit, upon approval of the Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police, may be renewed.
The vehicle storage permit shall be placed on the inside surface of the front windshield of the motor vehicle for which the permit is issued. The permit will be placed on the driver's side area of the windshield above or near the area where the state safety inspection sticker is normally placed and shall be completely visible from the outside of the vehicle. A temporary vehicle storage permit(s) may not be transferred from one vehicle to another.
Before a temporary motor vehicle storage permit is issued, the person, owner or lessee applying for the permit must sign a statement certifying that all gas, oil and/or other flammable liquids have been removed/drained from the vehicle(s).
It shall be unlawful to store any type of flammable material (liquid, solid or gas) in any motor vehicle or to store engine parts, lumber, garbage, rubbish or any other material that may pose a hazard to the health, welfare or safety of the residents of the Borough of Steelton or that may attract vermin or present a rodent harborage.
A. 
Any person aggrieved by a refusal of the Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police to issue a permit may request and shall be granted a hearing by the Borough Council, provided he/she shall file with said Council a written petition requesting such hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds therefor within 10 days after notice that a permit has been refused. The hearing shall commence not later than 30 days after the date on which the petition was filed unless postponed for sufficient cause. The hearing shall be conducted by the Council or the Council may appoint any member or group of members to act as hearing officer or officers, and to conduct the hearing.
B. 
After such hearing, the decision or, where no decision is called for, the findings shall be made by the Council, but the parties may waive decision or findings by the Council and accept the decision or findings of the hearing officer or officers as final.
C. 
The Borough Council shall initially establish, by ordinance, reasonable fees with respect to hearings before the Council or its appointed hearing officer or officers. Fees for said hearings may include compensation for the Secretary, notice and advertising costs and necessary administrative overhead connected with the hearing. The costs, however, shall not include legal expenses, engineering expenses, architectural or expert witness costs or other technical consultants. The Borough Council may, from time to time, change such fees by resolution.
Any motor vehicle that is classified a nuisance, stored on private grounds without a permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police, as herein required, shall be removed by the owner or occupier of said grounds after notice to do so, and in default thereof, the Borough may cause the same to be done and collect the costs thereof, together with a penalty of 10% of such costs in the manner provided by law for the collection of municipal claims or by action of assumpsit or may seek relief by bill in equity. Attorney fees shall be added to the amount collected above.
The Code Enforcement Officer or Steelton police and/or his/her/their authorized representative is hereby empowered to inspect grounds on which motor vehicles are stored to determine if there is compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $30 nor more than $600 and costs of prosecution or, in default of payment of such fines and costs, to undergo imprisonment for not more than 30 days, provided that each day's continued violation of any provision of this chapter, after notice thereof, shall constitute a separate violation and shall be punishable as such.