A junked vehicle that is located in a place where it is visible from a public place or public right-of-way is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public, tends to reduce the value of private property, invites vandalism, creates fire hazards, constitutes an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, and is detrimental to the economic welfare of the state by producing urban blight adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the town, and is a public nuisance. A person commits an offense if that person maintains a public nuisance as determined under this article.
(2001 Code, sec. 6.205)
The following procedures are adopted for the abatement and removal of a junked vehicle or a part of a junked vehicle as a public nuisance, from private property, public property, or public rights-of-way:
(1) 
Not less than ten (10) days’ notice of the nature of the nuisance must be sent by certified mail with a five-day return requested to the last known registered owner of the nuisance, each lienholder of record of the nuisance and the owner or occupant of the property on which the nuisance is located or, if the nuisance is located on a public right-of-way, the property adjacent to the right-of-way.
(2) 
The notice must state that the nuisance must be abated and removed not later than the tenth (10th) day after the day on which the notice was mailed and any request for a hearing must be made before that ten-day period expires. 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. 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.
(3) 
A public hearing must be conducted before removal of a junked motor vehicle or vehicle part as a public nuisance. The hearing shall be held before the town council if a hearing is requested by the owner or occupant of the public or private premises, or by the owner or occupant of the premises adjacent to the public right-of-way on which the vehicle is located, within ten (10) days after service of notice to abate the nuisance. At the hearing it is presumed, unless demonstrated otherwise by the owner, that the vehicle is inoperable. A resolution or order requiring the removal of a vehicle or vehicle part must include a description of the vehicle and the correct identification number and license number of the vehicle, if the information is available at the site.
(4) 
Notice must be given to the state department of transportation not later than the fifth (5th) day after the date of removal. The notice must identify the vehicle or vehicle part.
(5) 
A junked motor vehicle may not be reconstructed or made operable after it has been removed as provided by this article.
(6) 
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, or 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 that is an antique or special interest vehicle stored by a motor vehicle collector on the collector’s property, if the vehicle or part and the outdoor storage area, if any, are maintained in an orderly manner, not a health hazard, and screened from ordinary public view by appropriate means, including a fence, rapidly growing trees, or shrubbery, shall not be subject to the provisions of this article.
(7) 
The provisions of this article shall be administered by regularly salaried, full-time employees of the town, except that the removal of a vehicle or vehicle part from property may be by any duly authorized person.
(2001 Code, sec. 6.206)
A junked vehicle or vehicle part may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard, a demolisher, or any suitable site operated by the town for processing as scrap or salvage.
(2001 Code, sec. 6.207)