[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998]
A. 
Derelict Vehicle On Private Property. All vehicles or parts thereof, self-powered or non-self-powered, found upon any lot within the City limits in a dismantled, dilapidated, wrecked, abandoned or non-operative condition shall be considered a derelict vehicle thereby making it a public nuisance, detrimental to the health and safety of the public.
B. 
Unlicensed, Illegally Parked Vehicles On Private Property. All vehicles or parts thereof, self-powered and non-self-powered found upon any lot within City limits, the license for which has been expired for thirty (30) or more days shall be considered a derelict vehicle thereby making it a public nuisance, detrimental to the health and safety of the public.
C. 
Derelict Vehicles — Unlicensed Vehicles — Illegally Parked Vehicles On Public Property. Any vehicle, or parts thereof, self-powered or non-self-powered, found upon any lot or on any street, alley, easement, right-of-way, or highway within the City limits, and which is inoperable, disassembled, wrecked, dilapidated, abandoned, unlicensed, for thirty (30) or more days, shall be considered a derelict vehicle for the purpose of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998]
The following words when used in this Chapter shall have the meaning set out herein:
HAZARD
Any blockage of free travel on public right-of-ways; any placement of a vehicle that encourages vandalism or destruction; any placement of vehicles or parts of vehicles that pose a danger and are accessible to children or animals.
LICENSED VEHICLES
Any vehicle, self-powered or non-self-powered that must be registered and licensed for use on streets and highways according to State law.
NON-SELF-POWERED VEHICLES
Includes all vehicles such as trailers, boats, bicycles, pushcarts, or any other such similar vehicles that depends upon a motor vehicle, another self-propelled vehicle, or external source of propulsion for its movement.
OWNER
Includes the owner, caretaker, agent, or tenant of property, on which a derelict vehicle is found; or the registered owner of a derelict vehicle, found upon a public street or highway.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other organization of any kind.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Any vehicle, self-powered and includes all automobiles, trucks, vans, cycles, trailers, boats, or any such similar items of personal property.
REAL PROPERTY
Any real estate, lot, or part of lot within the City which is not a street or highway.
SELF-POWERED VEHICLE
Any self-propelled motor vehicle, and includes automobiles, trucks, vans, jeeps, motorcycles, go-carts, racing machines or any other such similar self-propelled vehicle.
STREET OR HIGHWAY
The entire width between the boundary lines of any right-of-way, any part of which is open to the use of the public for purpose of motor vehicle traffic.
UNLICENSED VEHICLE
Any vehicle, self-powered, or non-powered, that is required to be registered and licensed for use on streets and highways, by State law and which does not display a license, or is not properly registered as required by State law.
VEHICLES
Includes all vehicles, or any part thereof, designed or constructed to be propelled through its own power source, or by any external power source not directly connected to the vehicle, and includes any such vehicle whether or not by reason of its present condition is still capable of self-propulsion.
[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998]
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police or any authorized representative of the Chief of Police to notify violators, through issuance of a "violation notice" of any and all such violations of this Chapter.
B. 
The violation notice shall allow a maximum of ten (10) days to abate any violation of this Chapter. The owner of the property upon which a vehicle is located in violation of this Chapter may apply to the Police Chief for an extension of the abatement period if the owner can demonstrate that there are extraordinary circumstances which warrant retention of the vehicle for purposes of rehabilitation or disposal within a reasonable time. If the Police Chief finds:
1. 
The vehicle does not pose an immediate threat to public health or safety;
2. 
There is adequate reason to allow retention to the vehicle due to the special circumstances described by the owner; and
3. 
The vehicle will be brought into compliance or removed from the property within a reasonable time if an extended abatement period is allowed, the Police Chief may grant an extension of the abatement period of up to sixty (60) days upon condition that the necessary remedial action is taken by the owner within the time specified by the Police Chief.
C. 
Violation notices are to be forwarded to the violator through certified mail to the last known address, or a copy of the violation notice may be posted on the personal property or served in person by all representatives designated by the City to enforce City ordinances.
D. 
Whenever an abandoned or derelict vehicle has been parked, stored or left on any street, highway or property owned or controlled by the City, State or Federal Government, such vehicle shall be removed by or under the direction of a member of the Police Department and its owner shall be cited for violation of this Chapter upon receiving twenty-four (24) hours' advance notice.
[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998]
Upon failure of the owner to abate such nuisance to exist, they and each of them, upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day after the original ten (10) day notice if such nuisance is permitted to exist.
[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998]
A. 
Members of the Police Department are authorized to order the tow of a motor vehicle to a place designated or maintained by the Police Department whenever the circumstances and procedures set forth in this Chapter have been met. This shall not affect the violation penalty set forth in Section 240.040.
1. 
If a person abandons a vehicle on any real property owned by another without the consent of the owner or person in possession of the property at the request of the person in possession of the real property, any Police Officer may authorize a service station, towing operator, salvage dealer or vehicle repair shop to remove such vehicle from the property. For purposes of this Section, a person "abandons a vehicle" if he/she leaves the vehicle unattended for more than twenty-four (24) hours, or less if the abandoned vehicle, in the judgment of the officer, constitutes a safety hazard or unreasonably interferes with the use of the real property by the person in possession. The officer shall have no authority to remove a vehicle from real property owned by another prior to the expiration of the twenty-four (24) hours after the vehicle is placed on the property or notice given by the owner of the property, unless the abandoned vehicle, in the judgment of the officer, constitutes a safety hazard or unreasonably interferes with the use of the real property by the person in possession. The owner of a vehicle removed as provided in this Section shall be responsible for payment of all reasonable charges for towing and storage of such vehicle.
2. 
Neither the Law Enforcement Officer nor anyone having custody of a vehicle under discretion shall be liable for any damage to such vehicle occasioned by a removal authorized, other than damages occasioned by gross negligence or by willful or wanton acts or omissions.
[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998; Ord. No. A-305 §1, 10-12-1998]
A. 
Exceptions. The provisions of Sections 240.010 through 240.050 of this Chapter notwithstanding, nothing in this Chapter shall be deemed or construed to prohibit the following:
1. 
The storage of derelict or unlicensed vehicles in a completely enclosed building.
2. 
The storage of abandoned, derelict or unlicensed vehicles by the City of Lockwood.
3. 
The keeping or storage of unlicensed vehicles or vehicles in disrepair by and on the premises of a duly licensed vehicle repair or restoration facility, subject to the following conditions:
a. 
Any vehicle(s) for which the vehicle license and/or registration has been expired for thirty (30) or more days must be registered with the City Clerk and screened from view at normal eye level from any adjoining street by a sight-proof barrier or enclosure;
b. 
No vehicle(s) for which the vehicle license and/or registration has been expired for one (1) year or more may be parked, kept or stored other than in a fully enclosed building.
4. 
Race cars will be permitted as long as a person can show validation of current racing status within a one (1) year period of time.
B. 
Redemption Of Impounded Vehicles. No vehicle impounded by or at the direction of the Lockwood Police Department under the terms of this Chapter shall be released except under the following conditions:
1. 
The person seeking release of the vehicle shall provide satisfactory evidence of his/her identity, ownership of the vehicle, and, if appropriate, authority to act on behalf of the owner with respect to recovery of such vehicle.
2. 
Any towing or storage fees or charges shall be paid.
3. 
A receipt for delivery of the vehicle must be signed by the person to whom it is delivered.
[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998]
Any vehicle parked upon a public street of the City at a place, in a manner or for a length of time prohibited by ordinance, or beyond the time limit lawfully established by parking meters or other device or sign, is, if unoccupied and unattended, hereby declared to be an obstruction in such street and a public nuisance, and any Police Officer of the City is hereby authorized to cause the same to be removed to and impounded in the depository provided by the City for such purposes.
[Ord. No. A-299 §1, 5-11-1998]
The Chief of Police or any member of the City Police Department is hereby authorized to remove or have removed any vehicle left at any place within the City which reasonably appears to be in violation of this Chapter or lost, stolen, or unclaimed. Such vehicle shall be impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of. Notice of impounding shall be given to the owner of such vehicle, if known, as soon as practicable either in person or by ordinary mail. Any vehicle so impounded may be towed or stored within or without the City limits and shall be disposed of by sale or otherwise if not claimed by the owner within ten (10) days from the date impounded. To redeem any such vehicle the owner shall be required to pay all accrued towing and storage charges.