[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Edmonston 2-10-1997 by Ord. No. 96-002 (Ch. 47 of the 1997 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Maryland Vehicle Law (Titles 11 through 27 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland), as now in force or as hereafter amended, enacted or reenacted, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to junk any vehicle or leave any inoperable or unregistered vehicles at any place within the Town, nor shall any owner, lessee or custodian in charge of any lot, field, road, street, lane or other property, including private property, permit any junked vehicle to remain on such property within the Town except in an enclosed garage.
B. 
Presumption; exempt properties. For the purpose of this chapter, any partially dismantled or substantially damaged, inoperable vehicle or one that is unlicensed or bearing an expired license shall be presumed to have been junked.
(1) 
Properties exempt from this chapter are: licensed motor vehicle dealers, motor vehicle mechanical or body repair facilities and towing storage compounds. However, such vehicle must be stored on the licensed property. Storage of any vehicle shall be limited to no more than 90 days, in accordance with the provisions of Section 27-107.01(a)253.3 of the Prince George's County Code.
C. 
Under the authority of this chapter, any sworn police officer of the Town of Edmonston or a Code Enforcement Officer for the Town of Edmonston may impound the junked vehicle, after first attaching a police notice on the presumed junked vehicle which shall state, in part, "The attached vehicle is presumed junked. If not removed or brought into compliance with The Town of Edmonston Code within seven days from the date upon this notice, this vehicle shall be impounded and sent to a scrap processor. Likewise, the vehicle owner will be held liable for all towing, storage, preservation and all other charges relating to the disposition of the vehicle."
D. 
The Chief of Police for the Town shall have the authority to extend the seven-day period before impoundment for a time not to exceed 30 days, upon receipt of a written statement setting forth the reasons for requesting such extension; the Town Administrator shall also have the authority to extend the seven-day period for any definite time in excess of 30 days, upon receipt of a written statement setting forth the reasons for requesting such extension.
E. 
Violations of this section shall be punishable as a municipal infraction. The fine for any single violation shall be $50, and the fine for each repeat offense shall be $100.
F. 
The removal of any sticker, posted notice or marking which is placed upon any vehicle to identify a violation of state or local laws or municipal ordinances, without first obtaining compliance with the laws or ordinances shall be considered an intentional violation of this chapter; Orders to abate or correct the violation and shall therefore by punishable by Municipal Civil Citation of $500. Each occurrence shall be considered a separate offense.
[Amended 6-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-O-018]
A. 
The Town of Edmonston Police Officers and Code Enforcement Officers, except as otherwise stated, may take into custody and impound: any unattended vehicle parked or left standing on any highway or street in the Town or on any property owned or leased by the Town in violation of the following parking regulations:
(1) 
Any unattended vehicle for which five or more outstanding parking or parking meter violation citations have accumulated and matured to the maximum fine.
(2) 
Any vehicle in which the driver has been arrested by the Edmonston Police Department.
(3) 
Any vehicle parked blocking a fire hydrant.
(4) 
Any vehicle that is parked which creates hazardous conditions.
(5) 
Any vehicle that is unregistered, does not display license plates or is displaying license plates that are issued to another vehicle.
(6) 
Any vehicle that is determined to be stolen, for the purpose of safekeeping and will be stored until returned to the owner. (May be towed and impounded only by police officers).
(7) 
Any vehicle that is parked on a public street and is blocking a private driveway after the owner of said driveway makes an official complaint and requests the offending vehicle be towed.
(8) 
Any vehicle that is parked upon any public street or public right-of-way in the Town longer than 48 consecutive hours, as determined by direct observation, i.e., tires marked by a police officer or Code Enforcement Officer.
(9) 
Any vehicle in violation of § 429-2. Abandoned, junked and inoperable vehicles that have remained on property as described in § 429-2 longer than the specified and allotted time. Exemptions:
(a) 
Legally parked and properly licensed vehicles.
(b) 
Operable vehicles, which are parked on the public street area directly adjacent to the property owner or resident to which the vehicle is registered with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
(c) 
Operable vehicles, which are parked on the public street area directly adjacent to the property owner or resident, who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and the vehicle is registered with the state of their listed residence.
B. 
The provisions of Title 25, Subtitle 2, of the Maryland Vehicle Law (§ 25-201 et seq. of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland) shall apply with respect to the removal, storage, reclamation and disposal of any vehicle taken into custody pursuant to Subsection A above.
C. 
In addition to any information required to be contained in the notices given under Title 25, Subtitle 2, of the Maryland Vehicle Law, information as to the nature and circumstances of the traffic or parking violation or violations on account of which a vehicle is impounded shall be given to the owner or other person normally in charge of such vehicle.
D. 
In addition to paying all towing, preservation and storage charges resulting from taking or placing the vehicle in custody, the owner or person normally in charge of such vehicle shall also be liable to any fine (Town Codes and Town parking violations only) or forfeiture resulting from the violation or violations for which the vehicle was impounded.