As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
PROPERTY
Any real property within the city which is not a street or highway.
STREET or HIGHWAY
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way maintained,
when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular
travel.
VEHICLE
A machine propelled by other than human power, designed to travel
along the ground by use of wheels, treads, runners or slides and to transport
persons or property or pull machinery, including, but not by way of limitation,
an automobile, truck, trailer, motorcycle, tractor, buggy and wagon.
No person shall abandon a vehicle within the city, and no person shall
leave a vehicle at any place within the city for such time and under such
circumstances as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to be abandoned.
No person shall leave any partially dismantled, nonoperating, wrecked
or junked vehicle on a street or highway within the city.
No person in charge or control of property within the city, whether
as owner, tenant, occupant, lessee or otherwise, shall allow partially dismantled,
nonoperating, wrecked, junked or discarded vehicles to remain on the property
longer than 48 hours; and no person shall leave such vehicles on any property
within the city for a longer time than 48 hours. This section shall not apply
to a vehicle in an enclosed building; a vehicle on the premises of a business
enterprise operated in a lawful place and manner, when necessary to the operation
of the business enterprise, provided that the vehicle is housed or completely
screened from view; or a vehicle in an appropriate storage place or depository
maintained in a lawful place and manner by the city.
The Chief of Police, Director of Public Safety or any member of the
Police Department designated by him is authorized to remove or have removed
any vehicle left at any place within the city which appears to be present
in violation of this chapter. Such a vehicle shall be impounded until lawfully
claimed or disposed of in accordance with applicable statutes. The Chief of
Police, or any member of the Police Department acting for him, shall notify
the registered and legal owner, in writing, by personal service or by certified
mail, at the last-known address of the owner, of the removal of the vehicle,
the reason for the removal and the location of the vehicle. The vehicle shall
be retained and impounded until the owner or his authorized agent pays the
cost of such taking and removal, together with a garage charge of $15 for
each day that the vehicle is retained and impounded.