[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Dennis 4-15-2003 as Ord. No. 2003-02. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter.
FENCE and/or FENCED IN AREA
The area within an enclosed six foot fence, the interior of which shall not be visible from any public area.
STORE and/or STORED
The keeping of a motor vehicle upon any land and premises, public or private, for a period of more than 10 days.
It shall be unlawful for any person to store, or to permit, cause or suffer to be stored upon any lands or premises any motor vehicle which is not capable of being presently used or operated or any motor vehicle not bearing current registration plates or a current state inspection sticker, unless such motor vehicle is garaged or stored within a fenced in area. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a motor vehicle or vehicles located on the lands and premises of a licensed new or used automobile dealer or bona fide service station operator where such motor vehicle or vehicles are stored thereon for a period of 30 days or less for maintenance or repairs, or to motor vehicles stored on lands utilized for township storage.
Any motor vehicle which is not capable of being used or operated is hereby deemed to be a motor vehicle which cannot be moved under its own power from place to place on a public highway.
If a motor vehicle is stored upon lands and premises, public or private, for a period of not less than 10 days, the storage will be prima facie evidence that the motor vehicle is not capable of being presently used or operated.
In prosecutions under this section the owner of the motor vehicle involved or the owner of the lands and premises upon which the motor vehicle is stored, or the lessee of the lands and premises upon which the motor vehicle is stored may be a defendant and each of them in any one case may be made a defendant.
All vehicles which are in such a state of disrepair that the cost of repair exceeds the value of the vehicle or major parts are missing or the majority of the glass is broken and/or the vehicle would be classed as junk by a reasonable person, shall be deemed to be in violation of this section. The Code Enforcement Official of the Township of Dennis shall give owners of the aforementioned types of vehicle a 30 day warning to remove, fence in or garage said vehicle.
All unregistered vehicles, unlicensed classic vehicles, unlicensed operable vehicles and unlicensed vehicles in the process of being restored or repaired where there is evidence of actual work apparent on the vehicle, shall be given a 30 day warning to garage or fence in the vehicle. However, during this "30 day grace period" said vehicle must be placed in the least conspicuous place on the property if not parked in the driveway. In any event, any unlicensed vehicle may not be parked in the front yard or forward of the front of the building if parked in the side yard of the property. The number of vehicles stored shall not exceed two.
The Municipal Court of the Township of Dennis, County of Cape May, State of New Jersey shall have jurisdiction to hear any complaint for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
The Code Enforcement Official of the Township of Dennis, the constables of the Township of Dennis and the New Jersey State Police shall have the authority to issue summons for violation of this chapter.
For a first offense of violating any of the provisions of this chapter, a defendant shall be subject to a fine of not more than $200. For a second offense, the defendant shall receive a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $500. For a third offense, the defendant shall face a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and a period of community service of not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days. An individual need not be charged as a subsequent offender in order to be convicted as a subsequent offender. Each separate vehicle on the property which violates this section would constitute a separate offense.