[Adopted 4-16-1973 by Ord. No. 73-8; amended in its entirety 7-18-2011 by Ord. No. 11-18]
This article is amended in order to protect the health, safety
and welfare of the general public, eliminate nuisances (which a violation
of this article is hereby declared to be), avoid being an attraction
to children and otherwise limit the potential for mischief and criminal
conduct, such as theft of the vehicle or its parts as it sits in a
fixed location beyond the time set forth expressed in this article.
Its authority derives from N.J.S.A. 39:3-4, 39:4-8 and 39:4-197, and
N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.46, 40:48-1 and 40:48-2.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
INOPERABLE VEHICLE
Any vehicle which cannot be started upon request of the enforcement
officer, pursuant to this chapter, or for any other reason will not
run, e.g., no battery, a flat tire, no wheels, missing engine or parts
necessary to operate the vehicle on the street or highway. A vehicle
shall also be considered inoperable if the owner refuses to start
it. A vehicle shall also be considered inoperable if the vehicle cannot
legally be operated on any street, road or highway, e.g., vehicle
not legally registered or is an unregistered vehicle, as that term
is described below.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company, organization or entity of any kind.
PRIVATE LANDS
Private property upon which the public is not invited, such as residences, residential lots, or driveways (which are otherwise governed by Chapter
105, Outdoor Storage), or multifamily dwellings including condominium, townhouse or garden apartment complexes.
PUBLIC LANDS
All property devoted to public use, including those whereon
public buildings are erected.
QUASI-PUBLIC PROPERTY
Private property which is open to the public or upon which
the public is invited, including any parking yards (lots) and parking
places (e.g., shopping malls).
SUSPENDED REGISTRATION
Any vehicle whose registration privileges have been suspended
or revoked by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; any vehicle
whose registration is suspended or revoked in any other state pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.
UNREGISTERED VEHICLE
Any vehicle not registered with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission, or in which registration has expired, or if such a vehicle
does not bear proper registration plates with tags; or any vehicle
that is not registered or whose registration is expired in any other
state, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:3-4.
VEHICLE
Any machine propelled other than by human power, designed
to travel along the ground by use of wheels, treads, runners or slides
and includes, without limitation, an automobile, truck, trailer, motorcycle
or tractor.
[Adopted 12-19-1966 by Ord. No. 66-28; amended in its entirety 7-18-2011 by Ord. No. 11-18]
The Bridgewater Township Police Department is hereby designated as the "public agency," within the meaning of Chapter
81 of the Laws of 1964, to sell this abandoned, discarded, inoperable, unregistered
vehicle or suspended registration vehicle found within the jurisdiction
of the Township of Bridgewater, in the County of Somerset.
The Chief of Police or designee shall act for the Bridgewater Township Police Department in all proceedings under Chapter
81 of the Public Laws of 1964 respecting the sale of an abandoned, discarded, inoperable, unregistered vehicle or suspended registration vehicle found within this Township.
All proceedings for the sale of said abandoned, discarded, inoperable, unregistered vehicle or suspended registration vehicles shall be conducted in strict accordance with the provisions of Chapter
81 of the Laws of 1964.
All of the proceeds from the sale of abandoned, discarded, inoperable, unregistered vehicle or suspended registration vehicles shall be turned over immediately to the Township Treasurer to accomplish reimbursement to the Township of all reasonable costs of removal and storage and any fine and court costs as delineated in §
204-5D and
E hereinabove, with the balance distributed for disposition in accordance with New Jersey law.