[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Simsbury 3-25-1996.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
Abandoned motor vehicles and discarded motor vehicle parts, as hereinafter
defined, are prohibited within the territorial limits of the Town of Simsbury,
Connecticut.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A motor vehicle located on private property for a period of 30 consecutive
calendar days which is:
Inoperative; or
Unregistered and not in condition for legal use on the public highways
and is in a state or condition as to create an adverse effect upon the public
landscape or nearby private or public property or which otherwise creates
a public nuisance or a safety or health hazard; or
No longer used and is not lawfully stored within an approved garage,
building or structure.
Parts of a motor vehicle or old iron, metal, glass, paper, cordage
or other discarded waste or secondhand material which has been part of or
is intended to be a part of any motor vehicle located on private property
for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days, provided that any such parts
or materials are not lawfully stored within a garage, building or structure.
Any device, including but not limited to automobiles, trucks, buses,
tractors, trailers, recreational vehicles, motor homes, campers, motorcycles
and similar vehicles, in, upon or by which any person or property is or may
be drawn or transported upon a highway, except for devices moved exclusively
by human or muscular power.
This chapter shall not apply to abandoned motor vehicles and discarded
motor vehicle parts which shall be located in a motor vehicle junkyard licensed
in accordance with the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, as amended,
or permitted under any exemptions to any such licensing requirements.
The failure to remove an abandoned motor vehicle or discarded motor
vehicle parts from such private property within 30 calendar days subsequent
to the receipt of a written notice from the Town of Simsbury given in the
manner as hereinafter provided shall subject the owner of such property, the
person in possession or control of such property and also the owner of such
vehicle or parts, if known, to a fine in the amount of $90 for each day, or
any portion thereof, that such vehicle or parts shall thereafter remain on
such property.
When it is determined that an abandoned motor vehicle or discarded motor
vehicle parts are located on private property, the Town of Simsbury shall
notify the owner of such property, the person in possession or control of
such property, and also the owner of said vehicle or parts, if known, in writing
and by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage
prepaid, to cause the immediate removal of such vehicle or parts from such
property and shall also provide for the publication of such notice in a newspaper
having a substantial circulation in the Town of Simsbury. If provided in the
manner set forth herein, any such notice shall be deemed to have been properly
given, rendered or made on the third calendar day subsequent to it having
been deposited for mailing purposes in any postal office regularly maintained
by the United States Postal Service and the third day subsequent to its publication.
If such owner or person has not caused removal of such vehicle or parts from
such private property within 30 calendar days subsequent to the receipt of
said notification, the Town of Simsbury may cause removal of such motor vehicle
or parts to a licensed junkyard or to an area authorized by the proper authority
for impoundment and disposal of such vehicle or parts. The Town of Simsbury
shall be entitled to seek collection of its costs incurred in the removal
or disposition of any such vehicle or parts from the owner of such private
property, the party in possession or control of such property or the owner
of such vehicle or parts.
Prior to the removal of an abandoned motor vehicle as provided for in
the foregoing, the Zoning Enforcement Officer of the Town of Simsbury shall
notify the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles of
the issuance by the Town of Simsbury of such removal notice, such notification
to include the location of the vehicle, the identification number thereof,
if available, and such other description or identification of the vehicle
as may assist in establishing the legal ownership of the vehicle.
This chapter shall take effect on May 2, 1996.
