Antique vehicle.
A passenger car or truck that is at least 25 years old.
Collector.
The owner of one or more antique or special interest vehicles who collects, purchases, acquires, trades, or disposes of special interest or antique vehicles or parts of them for personal use in order to restore, preserve, and maintain an antique or special interest vehicle for historic interest.
Demolisher.
A person whose business is to convert a motor vehicle into processed scrap or scrap metal or to otherwise wreck or dismantle a motor vehicle.
Junked vehicle.
A vehicle that is self-propelled and:
(1) 
Does not have lawfully attached to it:
(A) 
An unexpired license plate; and
(B) 
A valid motor vehicle inspection certificate; and
(2) 
Is:
(A) 
Wrecked, dismantled or partially dismantled, or discarded; or
(B) 
Inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than:
(i) 
72 consecutive hours, if the vehicle is on public property; or
(ii) 
30 consecutive days, if the vehicle is on private property.
Motor vehicle.
A motor vehicle subject to registration under the Certificate of Title Act (V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, chapter 501).
Police department.
The police department of the city.
Special interest vehicle.
A motor vehicle of any age that has not been altered or modified from original manufacturer’s specifications and, because of its historic interest, is being preserved by hobbyists.
(1996 Code, sec. 7.1001; Ordinance adopting Code)
A person who commits an offense under this article is, upon conviction, subject to a fine as provided for in the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code for each offense, and each and every day such violation continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense. Upon conviction, the court shall order removal and abatement of the nuisance. The provisions of this article are cumulative of all other remedies available to the city. This article does not affect a law authorizing the immediate removal, as an obstruction to traffic, of a vehicle left on public property.
(1996 Code, sec. 7.1006)
(a) 
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 city by producing urban blight adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the city, and is a public nuisance.
(b) 
A person commits an offense if that person maintains a public nuisance as determined under this section.
(1996 Code, sec. 7.1002)
To provide 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, the city adopts the following procedures:
(1) 
For a nuisance on private property, not less than ten (10) days’ notice, stating the nature of the public nuisance on private property, must be given. The notice must require that the public nuisance be removed and abated within ten (10) days, and that a request for a hearing must be made before expiration of the ten-day period. The notice must be mailed, by certified mail with a five-day return requested, to the last known registered owner of the junked motor vehicle, and any lienholder of record, and to the owner or occupant of the private premises on which the public nuisance exists.
(2) 
For a nuisance on public property, not less than ten (10) days’ notice, stating the nature of the public nuisance on public property or on a public right-of-way, must be given. The notice shall require that the nuisance be removed and abated within ten (10) days, and that a request for a hearing must be made before expiration of the ten-day period. The notice must be mailed, by certified mail with a five-day return requested, to the last known registered owner of the junked motor vehicle, and any lienholder of record, and to the owner or occupant of the public premises or to the owner or occupant of the premises adjacent to the public right-of-way on which the public nuisance exists.
(3) 
If the post office address of the last known registered owner of the motor vehicle is unknown, notice to the last known registered owner may be placed on the motor vehicle, or if the last known registered owner is physically located, the notice may be hand-delivered. If any notice is returned undelivered by the United States post office, official action to abate the nuisance shall be continued to a date not less than ten (10) days after the date of the return.
(4) 
Vehicles removed under the provisions of this section may not be reconstructed or made operable after they have been removed.
(5) 
A public hearing must be held before the removal of the vehicle or vehicle part as a public nuisance. The hearing shall be held before the judge of the municipal court if 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. An order requiring the removal of the vehicle or vehicle part must include a description of the vehicle or vehicle part and the correct identification number and license number of the vehicle, if the information is available at the site.
(6) 
Notice must be given to the state department of transportation not later than the fifth day after the date of removal of a junked vehicle or vehicle part. The notice must identify the vehicle or vehicle part.
(7) 
These procedures may 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.
(8) 
The procedures of this section shall be administered by regularly salaried, full-time employees of the city, except that the removal of a vehicle or vehicle part from property may be by any duly authorized person.
(1996 Code, sec. 7.1003)
A junked vehicle or vehicle part may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard, demolisher, or any suitable site operated by the city for processing scrap or salvage.
(1996 Code, sec. 7.1004)
A person authorized by the city to administer the procedures authorized by this article may enter private property for the purposes specified in this article to examine a vehicle or vehicle part, obtain information as to identity of the vehicle, and remove or cause removal of a vehicle or vehicle part that constitutes a nuisance as defined herein. The municipal court may issue orders necessary to enforce the procedures of this article. If the owner or occupant of the premises or the owner of the junked motor vehicle or vehicle part shall give written permission to the chief of police for removal of the junked motor vehicle or vehicle part, the giving of such permission shall be considered compliance with the provisions of this article if given within the ten (10) days after receipt of the notice.
(1996 Code, sec. 7.1005)