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 A(3) 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]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction,
be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,250 or imprisonment for a term not
to exceed 90 days, or both.