[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Stoughton 4-24-1972, Art. 45, approved 8-24-1972 (Ch. 160 of the 1983 Code); amended in its entirety 4-30-1984 ATM, Art. 43. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parking — See Ch. 133.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 162.
Taxicabs — See Ch. 171.
Zoning — See Ch. 200.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle which is found unattended without the current year's registration plates or inspection sticker as required by law, has been continuously parked on any public land or private property for a period of 30 days and is so disabled as to be incapable of being operated under its own power.
JUNKED OR INOPERABLE MOTOR VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle which is no longer in actual use as a motor vehicle or which is wholly unfit to be operated and as to which any of the following conditions exist:
A. 
It has been so damaged by collision, accident or any other means that it is inoperable.
B. 
It does not have all of its material parts, including but not limited to four tires and wheels, required headlamps and tail lamps, windshield, radiator, transmission, engine, rear windows and doors.
C. 
It is for any reason inoperable.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle which is self-propelled as defined by the Motor Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause a motor vehicle to be abandoned upon any public or private lands in the Town of Stoughton.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner, tenant, lessee or anyone else in charge or control of any property in the Town of Stoughton to allow a junked or inoperable motor vehicle to remain on his, their or its property or on the property of which he, they or it are the tenants or in charge or control of for a period of more than 30 days.
C. 
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit:
(1) 
Any person from parking, storing or repairing a motor vehicle upon private or public property where authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the ordinances of the Town of Stoughton.
(2) 
The placing, keeping or storing of any motor vehicle wholly enclosed or screened in a garage or other building in accordance with Chapter 200, Zoning.
(3) 
The storage of any motor vehicle on the premises of a garage or service station when such motor vehicle is being repaired or is scheduled on the records of said garage or service station for repair.
All abandoned, junked or inoperable motor vehicles shall be removed by the owner or operator thereof or by the owner or occupant of the property on which said motor vehicle is located. Upon the failure of the owner or operator of any abandoned, junked or inoperable motor vehicle or of the owner or occupant of the property on which said motor vehicle is located to remove the same within 24 hours after receiving notice from the Police Department or Town Manager to remove the same, the Town may cause the same to be removed as hereinafter provided. Such notice shall be given either by personal service or by certified mail to the owner or operator of such abandoned, junked or inoperable motor vehicle or to the owner or occupant of the property on which said motor vehicle is found.