The outdoor storage of abandoned, junked or
discarded motor vehicles upon privately owned property with the town
is a source of vexation and annoyance. It constitutes an attractive
nuisance to children and a peril to their safety in the case of fire
or explosion whenever gasoline is left in the fuel tanks of such vehicles.
The preservation of public health and safety compels the enactment
of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle that is without current registration and
license plates and/or old, wrecked, discarded, abandoned or dismantled
or partially dismantled which is in such deteriorated condition that
it cannot be legally operated upon the public highway without substantial
repairs. The fact that any motor vehicle has remained unused on any
portion of the property on which is located for more than seven days
and is not in a condition to be moved under its own power shall be
presumptive evidence that such motor vehicle is abandoned.
It shall be conclusively presumed that the person
having control of the real property upon which the abandoned motor
vehicle is placed or stored, whether as owner, occupant, lessee, agent
or tenant, is the person who has permitted such abandoned motor vehicle
to remain upon the premises.