[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Fairfield as § 3-7 of the 1980 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any motor vehicle, omnibus, road tractor, trailer, truck
tractor, and vehicle which:
Is parked without the current year's registration or identification
markers as required by law.
Has been continuously parked in any of the places mentioned
in this chapter for a period of 72 hours.
Is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and
the driver or person owning or in charge thereof neglects or refuses
to move the same to a place where it will not obstruct traffic.
Is found to be mechanically inoperative.
Is found without one or more tires.
Shall have the meanings given them in the Motor Vehicle Laws
of the New Jersey Statutes.
It shall be unlawful for any person, either as owner, occupant,
lessee, agent, tenant or otherwise of any private property within
the Township, to store or deposit, or cause or permit to be stored
or deposited, an abandoned, junked, discarded or unlicensed motor
vehicle upon any private land or to abandon such vehicle on any public
streets within the Township.
A.
If the provisions of § 429-2 are violated, the state police or any other person authorized by resolution of the Township Committee shall serve written notice, either personally or by mail, on the owner, occupant or person having charge of any such private property or on the owner of the vehicle abandoned on a public street, to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Ownership of any parcel of land may be determined from the current tax rolls of the Township, and written notice may be served on such owner by regular mail.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
B.
In the case of vehicles found on a public street, the address of
the owner as shown on the records of the Motor Vehicle Commission
shall be deemed sufficient for the purpose of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
C.
The notice shall provide a date within which the vehicle must be
removed. The minimum time allowed for removal shall be 10 days from
the date of notice.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
A.
In the event that the motor vehicle is not removed, a state police
officer or other enforcement officer is authorized to direct any garage
personnel with the facilities for removal of such vehicle to move
it to a garage or place designated for the impounding of such vehicles.
The vehicle shall be retained and impounded until the person owning
it shall pay the reasonable costs of the removal and storage before
regaining possession of the vehicle.
B.
Whenever any vehicle is impounded, the state police officer or other
enforcement officer shall, within 15 days from the date of impoundment,
notify the registered owner, in writing, by personal service or by
certified mail, at the last known address of the owner, of the removal
of such vehicle, the reason for its removal, and the location of the
vehicle.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
Whenever any impounded vehicle remains unclaimed for a period
of 30 days, the vehicle shall be sold under the direction of the state
police at public or private sale. The expenses incurred in hauling,
towing or otherwise transporting the vehicle to the place of storage
shall be the responsibility of the person buying such vehicle. In
the event that no purchaser is found within 45 days from the date
the vehicle was impounded, the vehicle shall be removed and/or sold
for junk or destroyed. If sold for junk, all sums received therefor
shall be paid to the Township Chief Financial Officer and applied
to the expense incurred by the Township in the removal, storage or
sale of the vehicle. The expenses incurred by the Township, and not
otherwise defrayed or paid to the Township, shall be assessed against
the property owner and shall be collected as provided by law.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. II)]
Violation of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-5 of this Code.
