[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Woodstown 4-27-70 as Ord. No. 239; amended in its entirety 3-26-84 by Ord. No. 342; amended in its entirety 9-9-97 by Ord.
No. 518. Amended in entirety 4-25-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-7. Subsequent
amendments noted where applicable.]
The Borough Council hereby finds, determines and declares that
the keeping, storage or abandonment of any motor vehicle not currently
used for transportation or not licensed for operation in the current
year, out-of-doors within the limits of the Borough is hereby declared
to be a nuisance and contrary to the public health, safety, and welfare
of the inhabitants of the Borough, in that such articles so abandoned
or stored attract or may attract persons of tender years who may play
in and about them and be injured in so doing and in that such vehicles
so abandoned and stored out-of-doors exposed to the elements deteriorate
and the exposure to view of such motor vehicles is unsightly and detrimental
to the character and appearance of the Borough.
The following terms, phrases and words, as used in and for the
purpose of this chapter, shall be deemed to have the following meanings:
Any motor vehicle, omnibus, road tractor, trailer, truck,
truck tractor or vehicle, which:
Has remained on or about private property or public property
without the consent of the owner or other person so in charge of said
property for a continuing period of more than 48 hours; or
Does not have current license plates or registration; or
Is found to be partially dismantled, mechanically inoperative,
wrecked, junked or discarded and is allowed to remain in such condition
for a period of 48 hours; or
Is found without one or more tires; or
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 shall not obstruct traffic.
|
This definition shall not be construed as prohibiting a vehicle
owner from making repairs to one personal, registered vehicle, on
private property, with the property owner's consent for a reasonable
time not exceeding seven days.
|
Shall have the meanings stated and defined in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1
et seq.
The Police Department of the Borough of Woodstown.
It shall be unlawful for any person to store or abandon or suffer
or permit the storage or abandonment of any motor vehicle as defined
herein out-of-doors upon any public or private lands in the Borough
of Woodstown, or on any public street; provided, however, that nothing
herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit the placing, keeping
or storage of any such motor vehicle in a garage or other enclosed
structure within the Borough.
Whenever any member of the Police Department finds any motor
vehicle which has been abandoned, kept or stored contrary to the provisions
of this chapter, such member may issue a summons, remove, secure the
removal of and/or impound said motor vehicle in accordance with the
procedures hereinafter set forth.
A.
Public property. Whenever any abandoned motor vehicle is found on any public street, highway or public property, any member of the Police Department is authorized to issue a summons to any person, firm or corporation deemed to be in violation of this chapter. In addition, an emergency condition is herewith declared to exist and any member of the Police Department is hereby authorized to immediately remove, secure the removal of and/or impound such motor vehicle without the necessity of notice prior to said impoundment. After impoundment, the Police Department shall use diligent efforts to identify and locate the owner of the impounded motor vehicle which has been abandoned and notify the owner in accordance with Section 88-5.
B.
Private lands. Whenever any abandoned motor vehicle is found on any
private land in violation of the provisions of this chapter, any member
of the Police Department shall cause the owner of said motor vehicle
if he can be ascertained or located, or the owner or tenant of the
private lands upon which the violation is occurring, to be given seven
days written notice that said violation exists. Said notice shall
be given by personal service or certified mail sent to the last known
address of the owner of the motor vehicle and/or the owner or tenant
of the property.
(1)
In the event that at the expiration of seven days a violation of
the provisions of this chapter still exists, a summons may issue and
a penalty may be imposed against the owner of the vehicle, if known,
or against the owner or tenant, as appropriate, of the private lands
upon which the motor vehicle has been abandoned, for each and every
day that the vehicle remains in violation of this chapter. Any member
of the Police Department is further authorized, in his discretion,
to remove any vehicle left at any place within the Borough which is
deemed to be in violation of this chapter. Such vehicle may be impounded
until lawfully claimed or disposed of in accordance with applicable
statutes and the procedure set forth hereinafter. Notice of said impoundment
shall be given to the owner of the motor vehicle and/or the owner
or tenant of the private land upon which the violation occurred in
the manner hereinafter established.
(2)
In the case of motor vehicles found abandoned on commercial or multi-family
housing properties, all notices and summonses authorized in this chapter
shall be directed to the owners of such properties whenever the vehicle
owner cannot be ascertained or located as provided above.
A.
Notice of the impoundment of any motor vehicle shall be given to
the owner of said motor vehicle or to the owner or tenant of the private
lands upon which the violation has occurred, in writing, by personal
service or by certified mail at the last known address of such person,
and shall contain the following:
(1)
The time and place of impoundment.
(2)
Location of the motor vehicle.
(3)
The reason for impoundment.
(4)
The amount and nature of penalties and costs that may be entered
against such person.
(5)
A statement that a sale of the motor vehicle will occur after the
appropriate time period as set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:10A-lb, if the
motor vehicle is not reclaimed.
B.
Towing and storage fees. Upon notification to the appropriate party as required herein, towing and per diem storage fees shall be imposed representing the reasonable cost of removal of the vehicle for impoundment and storage. Such costs shall be as set forth in the fee schedule for removal and storage of vehicles as provided under Chapter 91, Towing, of the Code, and shall be imposed until all charges and costs are paid and the impounded vehicle is claimed and picked up by its rightful owner or the impounded vehicle is sold at public auction as provided hereinafter.
C.
Sale of impounded vehicles. Whenever any motor vehicle impounded
by the Police Department shall remain unclaimed for the minimum holding
period set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:10A-lb, such vehicle may be subject
to sale at public auction as provided in N.J.S.A. 39:10A- l et seq.
The Borough Council may by resolution provide for the sale of any
such property at public auction, after notice of a designated time
and place therefor, not less than five days prior thereto, by one
publication in a newspaper circulating within the Borough and by notifying
the owner of the motor vehicle and/or the owner or tenant of the lands
upon which the violation occurred, in writing, by personal service
or certified mail. All monies received from the sale of any such property
shall be paid into the general municipal treasury.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to a vehicle
on the premises of a business enterprise operated in a lawful place
and manner, when necessary to the operation of the business enterprise,
or a vehicle in an appropriate storage place or depository maintained
in a lawful place and manner by the Borough of Woodstown.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, and in addition to any towing charges, storage fees and other costs due pursuant to this chapter, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 but in no event less than $100 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. The penalties set forth in this subsection are separate and apart from the impoundment remedy provided for in Section 88-5.
