(a) 
A junked vehicle, including a part of a junked vehicle, that is located in a place where it is visible from a public place or public right-of-way is a public nuisance if it:
(1) 
Is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public;
(2) 
Tends to reduce the value of private property;
(3) 
Invites vandalism;
(4) 
Creates fire hazards;
(5) 
Constitutes an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors; and
(6) 
Is detrimental to the economic welfare of the city by producing urban blight adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the city.
(b) 
A person commits an offense if that person maintains a public nuisance as determined under this section.
(c) 
A person who commits an offense under this section is, on conviction, subject to a fine not to exceed $200.00. On conviction, the court shall order removal and abatement of the nuisance.
(1999 Unified General Code, ch. 3, art. I, div. II, sec. 1.00)
(a) 
Procedures for abatement and removal of a public nuisance pursuant to this division shall be administered by the code enforcement officer of the city and the city police department, who must be regularly salaried, full-time employees of the city, but any authorized person may remove the nuisance.
(b) 
Any person authorized to administer the procedures may enter private property to examine a public nuisance, to obtain information to identify the nuisance, and to remove or direct the removal of the nuisance.
(c) 
The municipal court may issue necessary orders to enforce the procedures.
(d) 
The code enforcement officer shall conduct hearings.
(e) 
A nuisance abatement board shall be created to conduct hearings.
(1) 
The nuisance abatement board shall consist of 5 regular members and 2 alternates, who shall be appointed by the commission for a term of 2 years, and removable for cause by the commission.
(2) 
The alternate members shall serve in the absence of 1 or more regular members when requested to do so by the mayor, the city manager, or an authorized official.
(3) 
A quorum shall consist of 3 members of the nuisance abatement board.
(4) 
The chairperson, or, in his or her absence, the acting chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.
(1999 Unified General Code, ch. 3, art. I, div. II, sec. 3.00)
(a) 
The city shall provide not less than 10 days’ notice of the nature of the nuisance.
(b) 
Notice must be sent by certified mail with a five-day return requested to:
(1) 
The last known registered owner of the nuisance;
(2) 
Each lienholder of record of the nuisance; and
(3) 
The owner or occupant of:
(A) 
The property on which the nuisance is located; or
(B) 
If the nuisance is located on a public right-of-way, the property adjacent to the right-of-way.
(c) 
If the post office address of the last known registered owner of the nuisance is unknown, notice may be placed on the nuisance or, if the owner is located, hand delivered.
(d) 
If notice is returned undelivered, action to abate the nuisance shall be continued to a date not earlier than the 11th day after the date of the return.
(1999 Unified General Code, ch. 3, art. I, div. II, sec. 4.00)
The notice must state:
(1) 
The nuisance must be removed and abated not later than the 10th day after the date on which the notice was mailed; and
(2) 
A request for hearing must be made before expiration of the 10-day period.
(1999 Unified General Code, ch. 3, art. I, div. II, sec. 5.00)
(a) 
The nuisance abatement board or the enforcement officer shall conduct public hearings under procedures adopted under this division.
(b) 
If a hearing is requested by a person for whom notice is required, the hearing shall be held not earlier than the 11th day after the date of the service of notice.
(c) 
At the hearing, the junked motor vehicle is presumed [to be inoperable], unless demonstrated otherwise by the owner.
(d) 
If the information is available at the location of the nuisance, a resolution or order requiring removal of the nuisance must include a description of the vehicle and the correct identification number and license number of the vehicle.
(e) 
Notice shall be given to the state department of transportation not later than the fifth day after the date of removal. The notice must identify the vehicle or vehicle part pursuant to section 683.074 of the Texas Transportation Code.
(f) 
The procedures shall not apply to a vehicle or vehicle part that is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not visible from the street or other public or private property, a vehicle or vehicle part that is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed vehicle dealer or junkyard, or an unlicensed operable or inoperable antique or special interest vehicle stored by a collector on the collector’s property, if the vehicle and the outdoor storage area are maintained in a manner so that they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view by means of a fence, rapidly growing trees, shrubbery, or other appropriate means.
(1999 Unified General Code, ch. 3, art. I, div. II, sec. 6.00)
(a) 
Any aggrieved person may appeal a decision of the nuisance abatement board or the enforcement officer.
(b) 
All appeals shall be to the city municipal court.
(c) 
An appeal of a decision must be filed within fifteen (15) days after the original decision rendered by the board or the enforcement officer is issued. No appeal may be had after the expiration of 15 days.
(1999 Unified General Code, ch. 3, art. I, div II, sec. 7.00)
(a) 
A junked vehicle or vehicle part shall be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard, a motor vehicle demolisher, or any suitable site operated by a municipality or county.
(b) 
The city may operate a disposal site upon the determination by the city commission that the commercial channels of disposition are not available or are inadequate, and the city may make final disposition of the vehicles or vehicle parts, or the city may transfer the vehicles or vehicle parts to another disposal site if the disposal is only as scrap or salvage.
(1999 Unified General Code, ch. 3, art. I, div II, sec. 8.00)