As used in this chapter:
"Abandoned/inoperative vehicles"
mean motor vehicles which are immobilized on any highway, public right-of-way, upon private or public property and which lack an engine, operative battery, transmission, one or more wheels or tires, doors, windshields, a license plate, or any part or equipment necessary to operate safely or legally on the highway; or has one or more flat tires; or which is mounted upon skids or jacks; or which displays registration tabs which have been elapsed for more than twelve months.
"Highway"
means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. Highway includes street.
"Owner of the land"
means the owner of the land on which the vehicle, or parts thereof, is located, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll.
"Owner of the vehicle"
means the last registered owner and legal owner of record.
"Public property"
does not include "highway."
"Vehicle"
means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, except a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994; Ord. 874 § 1, 1995)
In addition to and in accordance with the determination made and the authority granted by the state under Section 22660, of the Vehicle Code as amended, to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof as public nuisances, the city council makes the following findings and declarations:
The accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof on private or public property, not including highways, is found to create a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, to create a harborage for rodents and insects, and to be injurious to the health, safety and general welfare. Therefore, the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or parts thereof, on private or public property not including highways, except as expressly hereinafter permitted, is declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)
A. 
This chapter shall not apply to:
1. 
A vehicle, or parts thereof, which 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
2. 
A vehicle, or parts thereof, which is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, a junkyard, or when such storage or parking is necessary to the operation of a lawfully conducted business or commercial enterprise.
B. 
Nothing in this section shall authorize the maintenance of a public or private nuisance, as defined under provisions of law other than Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650) of Division 11 of the Vehicle Code, and this chapter.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)
Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the city manager or designee. In the enforcement of this chapter, such officer and his or her deputies may enter upon private or public property to examine a vehicle or parts thereof, or obtain information as to the identity of vehicle, and to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle or parts thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to this chapter.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994; Ord. 1027 § 1, 2007)
When the city council has contracted with a tow company or granted a franchise to any person or persons, such person or persons shall be authorized to enter upon private property or public property to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle or parts thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to this chapter.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)
Upon discovering the existence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or part thereof, on private property or public property within the city, the city manager or designee shall have the authority to cause the abatement and removal thereof in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this chapter.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994; Ord. 1027 § 2, 2007)
A ten-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle, or parts thereof, as a public nuisance shall be mailed by registered or certified mail to the owner of the land and to the owner of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. The notices of intention shall be in substantially the following form:
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED, OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLE OR PARTS THEREOF AS PUBLIC NUISANCE
(Name and address of owner of the land)
As owner shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the land located at (address), you are hereby notified that the undersigned pursuant to Section 8.20.020 et seq. of Pico Rivera Municipal Code has determined that there exists upon said land an (or parts of an) abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle registered to __________, license number __________, which constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 8.20 of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code.
You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle or said parts thereof, within 10 days from the date of mailing of this notice. Upon your failure to do so, you will be assessed a fee of [insert applicable fee per adopted schedule]. If the vehicle is not abated within 20 days from the date of mailing of this notice, the vehicle will be abated and removed by the City and the costs thereof, will be assessed to you as owner of the land on which said vehicle or parts is located.
As owner of the land on which said vehicle or parts is located, you are hereby notified that you may, within 10 days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request a public hearing. If such a request is not received by the city manager or designee within such 10-day period, the city manager or designee shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) after 20 days have elapsed since the first notice as a public nuisance and assess the costs as aforesaid without a public hearing. You may submit a sworn written statement within such 10-day period denying responsibility for the presence of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) on said land, with your reasons for denial, and such statement shall be construed as a request for hearing at which your presence is not required. You may appear in person at any hearing requested by you or the owner of the vehicle or, in lieu thereof, may present a sworn written statement as aforesaid in time for consideration at such hearing.
Notice Mailed__________(date)
City Manager or Designee__________
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLE OR PARTS THEREOF AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE
[Name and address of last registered and/or legal owner of record of vehicle—notice should be given to both if different]
As last registered (and/or legal) owner of record of [description of vehicle—make, model, license, etc.], you are hereby notified that the undersigned pursuant to Section 8.20.020 et seq. of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code has determined that said vehicle (or parts of a vehicle) exists as an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle at [describe location and whether it is public or private property] and constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 8.20 of the Pico Rivera Municipal Code.
You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) within 10 days from the date of mailing of this notice. If said vehicle is not abated within this period, you will be assessed a fee of [insert applicable fee per adopted schedule].
As registered (and/or legal) owner of record of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle), you are hereby notified that you may, within 10 days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request a public hearing. If such a request is not received by the city manager or designee within such 10-day period, or if said vehicle is not abated within 20 days from the initial notice, the city manager or designee shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) and to assess all costs for its removal without a hearing.
Notice Mailed__________(date)
City Manager or Designee __________
(Ord. 836 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1027 § 3, 2007)
A. 
Upon request by the owner of the vehicle or the land received by the city manager or designee within ten days after the mailing of the notices of intention to abate and remove, a public hearing shall be held by the city manager or designee on the question of abatement and removal of the vehicle or parts thereof as abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, and the assessment of the administrative costs and the cost of removal of the vehicle or parts thereof against the property on which it is located.
B. 
If the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his or her land within such ten-day period, the statement shall be construed as a request for a hearing which does not require his or her presence. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed, by registered or certified mail, at least ten days before the hearing to the owner of the land and to the owner of the vehicles, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. If such request for hearing is not received within said ten days after mailing of the notice of intention to abate and remove or if the vehicle is not abated in that period, the owner of the vehicle shall be assessed a fee of (insert applicable fee per adopted schedule) and the city shall have the authority to abate and remove the vehicle or parts thereof as public nuisance without holding a public hearing.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994; Ord. 1027 § 4, 2007)
A. 
All hearings under this chapter shall be held before the city manager or designee, who shall hear all facts and testimony he or she deems pertinent. Such facts and testimony may include testimony on the condition of the vehicle or parts thereof and the circumstances concerning its location on such private or public property. The city manager or designee shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence. The owner of the land may appear in person at the hearing, or present a sworn written statement in time for consideration at the hearing, and deny responsibility for the presence of the vehicle or parts thereof on the land, with his or her reasons for such denial.
B. 
The city manager or designee may impose such conditions and take such other action as he or she deems appropriate under the circumstances to carry out the purpose of this chapter. He or she may delay the time for removal of the vehicle or parts thereof if, in his or her opinion, the circumstances justify it. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the city manager or designee may find that a vehicle or parts thereof has been abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or is inoperative on private or public property, and order the same removed from the property as a public nuisance and disposed of as hereinafter provided, and determine the administrative costs and the cost of removal to be charged against the owner of the land. The order requiring removal shall include a description of the vehicle or parts thereof and the correct identification number and license number of the vehicles, if available at site.
C. 
If it is determined at the hearing that the vehicle was placed on the land without the consent of the owner of the land and that he or she has not subsequently acquiesced in its presence, the city manager or designee shall not assess the costs of administration or removal of the vehicle against the property upon which the vehicles is located or otherwise attempt to collect such costs from such owner of the land.
D. 
If the owner of the land submits a sworn statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his or her land, but does not appear, or if any interested party makes a written presentation to the city manager or designee but does not appear, he or she shall be notified in writing of the decision.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994; Ord. 1027 § 5, 2007)
A. 
Any interested party may appeal the decision of the city manager or designee by filing a written notice of appeal with the city manager or designee within five days after his or her decision.
B. 
Such appeal shall be heard by the city council, which may affirm, amend or reverse the order, or take other action deemed appropriate.
C. 
The clerk shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the appellant and those persons specified in Section 8.20.070.
D. 
In conducting the hearing, the city council shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1027 § 6, 2007)
Five days after adoption of the order declaring the vehicle or parts thereof to be a public nuisance, five days from the date of mailing of notice of the decision, if such notice is required by Section 8.20.070, or fifteen days after such action of the governing body authorizing removal following appeal, the vehicle or parts thereof may be disposed of by removal to a scrapyard or automobile dismantler's yard. After a vehicle has been removed, it shall not thereafter be reconstructed or made operable.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)
Within five days after the date of removal of the vehicle or parts thereof, notice shall be given to the Department of Motor Vehicles identifying the vehicle or parts thereof removed. At the same time there shall be transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles any evidence of registration available, including registration certificates, certificates of title and license plates.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)
The city council shall from time to time determine and fix an amount to be assessed as administrative costs, excluding the actual cost of removal of any vehicle or parts thereof, under this chapter.
(Ord. 836 § 1, 1993)
A. 
If the administrative costs and cost of removal which are charged against the owner of a parcel of land pursuant to Section 8.20.060 are not paid within thirty days of the date of the order, or the final disposition of an appeal therefor, such costs shall be assessed against the parcel of land pursuant to Section 38773.5 or Section 25845 of Government Code, and shall be transmitted to the tax collector for collection. Such assessment shall have the same priority as other city taxes. Alternatively, the city may pursue abatement liens to recover such costs.
B. 
The prevailing party may recover attorney's fees incurred in any action, administrative proceeding or special proceeding to abate and remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle and for abatement of public nuisance, but only those individual actions or proceedings in which the city elects, at the initiation of that individual action or proceeding, to seek recovery of its own attorneys' fees. In no action, administrative proceeding, or special proceeding shall an award of attorney's fees incurred by the city in the action or proceeding.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994; Ord. 1027 § 7, 2007)
This chapter is not the exclusive regulation of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles within the city. It shall supplement and be in addition to the other regulatory codes, statutes and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the city, the state, or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)
It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to abandon, park, store or leave or permit the abandonment, parking, storing or leaving of any licensed or unlicensed vehicle or parts thereof which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative condition upon any private property or public property, not including highways, within the city for a period in excess of five days, unless such vehicle or parts thereof is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not plainly visible from the street or other public or private property, or unless such vehicle is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, or a junkyard.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)
It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to fail or refuse to remove an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or parts thereof, or refuse to abate such nuisance when ordered to do so in accordance with the abatement provisions of this chapter or state law, where such state law is applicable.
(Ord. 860 § 1, 1994)