[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Freedom 5-11-2005 by Ord. No. 538.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Property maintenance — See Ch. 154.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 193.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 197, Vehicles, Junk, adopted 6-12-1972 by Ord. No. 414, as amended.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
LESSEE
Owner for the purpose of this chapter when the lessor holds the lessee responsible for maintenance and repairs.
MECHANICAL WASTE
Discarded items, including, but not limited to, engines, machines, mechanical and electrical equipment, tools, discarded vehicles and vehicle parts and similar materials.
[Added 6-13-2007 by Ord. No. 549]
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any type of mechanical device, propelled by a motor, in which persons or property may be transported upon public streets or highways, and including trailers or semi-trailers pulled thereby.
NUISANCE
Any condition, structure, or improvement which shall constitute a danger or potential danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of the Borough of Freedom.
OWNER
The actual owner, agent or custodian of the property on which motor vehicles 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 nuisance upon the open private grounds of such person, owner or lessee within the Borough of Freedom. A motor vehicle nuisance shall include, but is not limited to, any motor vehicle which is unable to move under its own power and has any of the following physical defects:
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.
D. 
Any 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 or open which could permit animal and or vermin harborage.
G. 
Broken headlamps or tail lamps with sharp edges.
H. 
Disassembled chassis parts apart from the motor vehicle, stored in a disorderly fashion or loose in 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 or explosion.
L. 
Exposed battery containing acid.
M. 
Inoperable locking mechanism or doors or trunk.
N. 
Open or damaged floor boards, including trunk and firewall.
O. 
Damaged bumpers pulled away from the perimeter of vehicle.
P. 
Broken grill with protruding edges.
Q. 
Loose or damaged metal trim and clips.
R. 
Broken communication equipment, i.e., antennas.
S. 
Suspended on unstable supports.
T. 
Such other defects which could threaten the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Borough of Freedom.
[Added 6-13-2007 by Ord. No. 549]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, owner or lessee to maintain, store or cause to be stored upon any private property within the Borough of Freedom any motor vehicles that are not in operating condition and do or do not display a current Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation registration tag or license plate and inspection sticker; nor shall it be lawful to store any mechanical waste.
B. 
It shall be unlawful to place mechanical waste or to park any motor vehicle on any street or thoroughfare within the Borough of Freedom which does not have a current inspection sticker and registration plate or tag that is deemed inoperable for legal use.
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle in any street or thoroughfare within the Borough of Freedom for the purpose of repairing said vehicle if the repairs will render the vehicle inoperative for a period in excess of 36 hours. No person shall perform a repair operation in such a manner as to present a danger of injury to pedestrian traffic or obstruction of view to pedestrians or motorists.
[Amended 6-13-2007 by Ord. No. 549]
A. 
Any person, owner or lessee who has one or more motor vehicle nuisances, as defined in § 197-2 above, may store such vehicle(s) in the Borough of Freedom only in strict compliance with the regulations provided herein. Such person, owner or lessee must first apply for a permit for either temporary or permanent storage and pay a fee of $50 to the Borough of Freedom, which shall be changed at the will of the Borough pursuant to a resolution of the Borough Council. The motor vehicle nuisance(s) must be stored within a garage or other enclosed building or outside within an opaque fence at least six feet high which is locked at all times while unattended.
B. 
With the special approval of the Borough Council, motor vehicle nuisances may also be stored outside in an area enclosed by a chain-link fence at least six feet high, screened by shrubbery around the perimeter to the height of the fence, with an unobstructed gate capable of admitting fire or emergency equipment. Such gate shall remain locked at all times when unattended. In addition, all gas and oil or other flammable liquid shall be removed from the motor vehicle and it shall be kept free of vermin infestation while being stored. The total area of storage of motor vehicle nuisances may not exceed 400 square feet.
C. 
Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the storage of motor vehicle nuisances contrary to the provision of the Zoning Ordinance[1] of the Borough of Freedom.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 205, Zoning.
A. 
The police officers of the Borough of Freedom or the Borough's Code Enforcement Officer are hereby empowered to inspect private property on which motor vehicles are stored to determine if there is compliance with the provisions of this chapter. If noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter constitutes a nuisance, or if any condition, structure, or improvement poses a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the public, the police officer or the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a written notice to be served by registered or certified mail upon the owner of said premises or, if the owner's whereabouts or identity are unknown, by posting the notice conspicuously upon the offending premises.
B. 
Said notice shall specify the condition or structure or improvement complained of and shall require the owner to commence to remove or otherwise rectify the condition or structure or improvement as set forth therein within 10 days of mailing or posting of said notice, and thereafter, to fully comply with the requirements of the notice and ordinance within a reasonable time.
If the owner of grounds on which motor vehicles are stored does not comply with the notice to abate the nuisance within the time limit prescribed, the Borough of Freedom shall have the authority to take measures to correct the conditions and collect the cost of such corrections plus 10% of all costs. The Borough of Freedom, in such event and pursuant to its statutory or otherwise authorized police powers, shall have the right and power to enter upon the offending premises to accomplish the foregoing.
A. 
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the police officers may request and shall then be granted a hearing before the Borough's Council, provided the person files with the Borough of Freedom within 10 days after notice of the police officer's decision. The person must file a written petition requesting such hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds thereof with the Borough Secretary or Code Enforcement Officer. The hearing shall commence not later than 30 days after the date on which the petition was filed unless postponed for sufficient cause.
B. 
After such hearing, the Borough's Council shall sustain, modify or overrule the action of the police officer or Code Enforcement Officer.
A. 
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, on conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300 and, in default of payment, to undergo imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
Furthermore, any costs associated with the Borough of Freedom removing and storing the subject vehicles shall be imposed upon and recoverable against the offender.
[Added 6-13-2007 by Ord. No. 549]
The remedies provided herein for the enforcement of this chapter or any remedy provided by law shall not be deemed mutually exclusive; rather they may be employed simultaneously or consecutively, at the option of the Borough of Freedom.