Junked vehicles which are located in any place where they are visible from a public place or public right-of-way are found to be detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public, tending to reduce the value of private property, to invite vandalism, to create fire hazards, and to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, and are detrimental to the economic welfare of the city by producing urban blight which is adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the city. Junked vehicles are therefore declared to be a public nuisance and subject to abatement as set out hereafter.
(Ordinance 85-12-10-2, sec. 6(a), adopted 12/10/85)
The owner or occupant of any real property within the city shall keep such property free of and shall not permit or suffer the presence of junked vehicles on such property.
(Ordinance 85-12-10-2, sec. 6(b), adopted 12/10/85)
Whenever any such junked vehicle is located on any premises within the city in violation of this section, the mayor or his designate shall order the owner of the premises whereon such public nuisance exists to abate or remove the same. Such order shall:
(1) 
Be in writing.
(2) 
State the nature of the public nuisance and that it must be removed and abated within ten (10) days after issuance of notice.
(3) 
Advise the owner or occupant of the premises that such person may request a hearing to determine whether or not the motor vehicle is a junked motor vehicle as defined herein by filing a written application for such hearing with the clerk of the municipal court before the expiration of said ten-day period.
(4) 
Advise the owner of the premises or occupant thereof that in the event that no request for a hearing is received before the expiration of the ten-day period it shall be conclusively presumed that said vehicle is a junked vehicle as defined under state law and city ordinance.
(5) 
If the junked vehicle is on private property, such notice shall be served upon the occupant of the premises, if occupied, by certified or registered mail with a five-day return receipt requested; or served upon the owner by sending such notice to the address shown on the city’s tax rolls for the owner of the premises by registered or certified mail, five-day return receipt requested. If the junked vehicle is on public property, such notice shall be served by sending such notice to the address of the property adjacent to the public right-of-way addressed to the occupant or owner thereof by certified mail, five-day return receipt requested.
(Ordinance 85-12-10-2, sec. 6(c), adopted 12/10/85)
If the owner or occupant of the premises does not request a public hearing, and either fails or refuses to comply with the notice of the mayor or his designate within ten (10) days after issuance of the notice, or if the notice as hereinabove provided is returned undelivered by the United States Postal Service, a peace officer, when authorized by search warrant, shall take possession of such junked motor vehicle and remove it from the premises no sooner than ten (10) days from the date such return is made.
(Ordinance 85-12-10-2, sec. 6(d), adopted 12/10/85)
Within five (5) days after the date of removal of said vehicle the mayor or his designate shall give notice to the state department of transportation identifying the vehicle or part thereof removed.
(Ordinance 85-12-10-2, sec. 6(e), adopted 12/10/85)
This article shall not apply to:
(1) 
A vehicle or part thereof which is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not visible from a street or other public or private property;
(2) 
A vehicle or part thereof which is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed vehicle dealer on a properly zoned lot or tract, or a properly zoned junkyard; or
(3) 
Unlicensed operable or inoperable antique and special interest vehicles stored by a collector on his property, provided that the vehicles in the outdoor storage area are maintained in such a manner 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.
(Ordinance 85-12-10-2, sec. 6(f), adopted 12/10/85)
Junked vehicles or parts thereof may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard, demolisher, or any suitable site operated by the city or county for processing as scrap or salvage, provided that the vehicle shall not be reconstructed or made operable. The city may operate such a disposal site when its governing body determines that commercial channels of disposition are not available or are inadequate, and it may make final disposition of such vehicles or parts, or the city may transfer such vehicles or parts to another, provided such disposal shall be only as scrap or salvage.
(Ordinance 85-12-10-2, sec. 6(g), adopted 12/10/85)