As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the
meanings set out herein:
ABANDONED PROPERTY
Any unattended motor vehicle, trailer, all-terrain vehicle,
outboard motor or vessel removed or subject to removal from public
or private property as provided in this Article, whether or not operational.
For any vehicle towed from the scene of an accident at the request
of law enforcement and not retrieved by the vehicle's owner within
five (5) days of the accident, the agency requesting the tow shall
be required to write an abandoned property report or a criminal inquiry
and inspection report.
PERSON
Any natural person, corporation or other legal entity.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
The entire width of land between the boundary lines of a
public road or State highway, including any roadway.
ROADWAY
That portion of a public road or State highway ordinarily
used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.
TOWING COMPANY
Any person or entity which tows, removes or stores abandoned
property.
URBANIZED AREA
An area with a population of fifty thousand (50,000) or more
designated by the Bureau of the Census within boundaries to be fixed
by the State Highways and Transportation Commission and local officials
in cooperation with each other and approved by the Secretary of Transportation.
The boundary of an urbanized area shall, at a minimum, encompass the
entire urbanized area as designed by the Bureau of the Census.
No person shall abandon any motor vehicle on the right-of-way
of any public road or State highway or on any private real property
owned by another without his/her consent.
[Ord. No. 530, 9-11-2017]
A. For
purposes of this Section, "inoperable vehicle" shall
include motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats, fifth-wheel
trailers, and is further defined as follows:
1. Any vehicle missing any part vital to its operation, such as its
engine, transmission, tires, wheels and required safety equipment;
2. Any vehicle missing any substantial portion of its exterior body
parts, including, but not limited to, its hood, trunk, and front and
side body work;
3. Any van, truck or trailer box either connected or disconnected from
the chassis and which is not connected to an engine; or
4. Any vehicle not displaying a currently effective license or registered
number plate or plates, including any registration decal required
by the laws of Missouri and/or the County and/or the City and issued
to the owner of any such vehicle to be displayed on the vehicle registered.
B. Parking
And Storing Of Vehicles Which Are Not In An Operating Condition.
1. It is unlawful for the owner or person in possession of any motor
vehicle to park or place said vehicle upon a driveway, lot, plot,
tract or City right-of-way (except in an enclosed structure or an
approved form fitting car cover) while said vehicle is not in an operating
condition. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to owners
who have temporarily (not exceeding forty-eight (48) hours) placed
their motor vehicles in a non-operating condition while working on
said vehicles on their premises. Approved form fitting car covers
may only be used in lieu of an enclosed structure when the vehicle
is located to the side or the back of the house. The approved form
fitting car cover must be opaque and cover the entire vehicle.
2. The Building Code Official or designee for the City shall serve notification,
in accordance with the currently adopted International Property Maintenance
Code, if he/she finds a violation of this Section.
3. When an inoperable vehicle that is for sale has been parked upon
a parcel within the City limits, the vehicle must have a for sale
sign placed on the front windshield stating the date it was placed
on the parcel for sale. That vehicle cannot sit on the parcel in excess
of thirty (30) days at which time the vehicle must be removed from
the parcel and cannot again be replaced on this parcel in an inoperable
condition for any purpose.
Except in the case of an accident resulting in the injury or
death of any person, the driver of a vehicle which for any reason
obstructs the regular flow of traffic on the roadway of any public
road or State highway shall make every reasonable effort to move the
vehicle or have it moved so as not to block the regular flow of traffic.
Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of this Section
is guilty of an ordinance violation and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00)
nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00).
When the City has physical possession of the abandoned property,
it may sell the abandoned property in accordance with its established
provisions and regulations and may transfer ownership by means of
a bill of sale signed by the City Clerk and sealed with the official
City Seal. Such bill of sale shall contain the make and model of the
abandoned property, the complete abandoned property identification
number, and the odometer reading of the abandoned property if available
and shall be lawful proof of ownership for any dealer registered under
the provisions of Section 301.218, RSMo., or Section 301.560, RSMo.,
or for any other person.