The following terms, phrases and words used
in and for the purpose of this chapter shall be deemed to have the
following meanings:
ABANDONED
Includes any motor vehicle, omnibus, road tractor, truck,
truck trailer or other vehicle which:
A.
Is parked without the current year's registration
or identification marker or any public street or lands;
B.
Has been continuously parked in any public street
or on any public land for a period of 10 days;
C.
Is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction
to traffic, and the driver or person owning or in charge thereof,
neglects or refuses to move the same to a place where it shall not
obstruct traffic; or
D.
Is found to be mechanically inoperative and
is allowed to remain inoperative for a period of 60 days upon any
public or private property. (Said period of time may be extended for
good cause by the Chief of Police of the Police Department of the
City of North Wildwood.)
JUNK AUTOMOBILE; JUNK AUTOMOBILE BODIES
Any automobile which is no longer in actual use as a motor
vehicle or which is wholly unfit without rebuilding or reconditioning
for use in highway transportation or which has been discarded for
use as a motor vehicle or otherwise abandoned.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle, omnibus, road tractor, trailer, truck,
truck tractor or other vehicle, as defined in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1, et
seq.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership or corporation being the
owner or having any legal right in or to the motor vehicle or other
vehicle as herein defined.
PLACE OF STORAGE
Refers to a junkyard or other approved storage area, but any such junkyard or other storage area is subject to any and all provisions contained in this chapter, specifically §
414-2B hereof, and any and all other ordinances of the City of North Wildwood.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Any property which is privately owned and which is not public
property as defined herein.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Any street or highway which shall include the entire width
between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained for the
purposes of vehicular traffic, and any other publicly owned property
and facility.
Whenever any officer of the City of North Wildwood
Police Department finds any motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk
automobile body which has been abandoned, kept or stored contrary
to the provisions of this chapter, such member of the City of North
Wildwood Police Department shall remove, secure the removal of and/or
impound said vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile body in accordance
with the procedures hereinafter set forth:
A. Public property. When any motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile body is found on any public street, highway or public property, an emergency condition is herewith declared to exist, and any officer of the City of North Wildwood Police Department is hereby authorized to immediately remove, secure the removal and/or impound the motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile body without the necessity of notice prior to said impoundment. After impoundment, the City of North Wildwood Police Department shall use diligent efforts to identify and locate the owner of the impounded motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile body and notify the owner in accordance with Subsection
C below.
B. Private property.
(1) Whenever any motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk
automobile body is found on any private land in violation of the provisions
of this chapter, then any officer of the City of North Wildwood Police
Department shall cause the owner of the motor vehicle, junk automobile
or junk automobile body, if he can be found, or the owner or tenant
of the private lands upon which the violation is occurring, to be
given five days' written notice that said violation exists (said notice
shall be given by registered mail, sent to the last known address
of the owner of the motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile
body and/or the owner or tenant of the property).
(2) In the event that, at the expiration of five days,
the violation of the provisions of this chapter still exist, any member
of the City of North Wildwood Police Department is to proceed in accordance
with the law to impound the motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk
automobile body to a place of storage. Notice of said impoundment
shall be given to the owner of the motor vehicle, junk automobile
or junk automobile body or to the owner or tenant of the private land
on which the violation is occurring in the manner hereinafter established.
C. Notice of impoundment. Notice of the impoundment of any motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile body shall be given to the owner of said motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile body or to the owner or tenant of lands upon which the violation is occurring pursuant to §
414-2C above, in writing, by registered mail to the last known address of the party to be served, and shall contain the following:
(1) The time and place of impoundment.
(2) The location of the motor vehicle, junk automobile
or junk automobile body.
(3) The reason for impoundment.
(4) The amount and nature of penalties and costs that
may be entered against him.
(5) A statement that a sale of the motor vehicle, junk
automobile or junk automobile body will occur after 60 days if the
motor vehicle, junk automobile or junk automobile body is not reclaimed.
[Amended 5-21-2002 by Ord. No. 1411; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I)]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter
shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000,
imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or community service for not
more than 90 days, or any combination thereof.