[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Medford 4-20-1981 by Ord. No. 1981-5. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 2019-4, adopted 4-16-2019, amended the title of Ch. 137, formerly Vehicles, Abandoned.
The following terms, phrases and words as used in and for the purpose of this chapter shall be deemed to have the following meanings:
INOPERABLE VEHICLE, INOPERABLE AUTOMOBILE and INOPERABLE AUTOMOBILE BODY
An automobile or vehicle of any type which is unregistered, or any vehicle, whether registered or not, that is in an inoperable condition or unfit for use on any public highway, standing or located on any property in the Township of Medford. Vehicles being restored are exempt under this definition.
[Amended 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
MOTOR VEHICLE, OMNIBUS, ROAD TRACTOR, TRAILER, TRUCK, TRUCK TRACTOR and VEHICLE
Shall have the meaning as stated and 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, of or to the vehicle or automobile as herein defined.
[Amended 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon, keep, store, locate, or suffer or permit the keeping, abandonment or storage of any inoperable vehicle or vehicles, as defined herein, out of doors upon any public or private lands in the Township of Medford or any public streets thereof. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the placing, keeping or storage of any such vehicle in an enclosed garage, barn or other building, or under cover. Vehicles undergoing restoration must be covered if parked in a front yard and/or driveway.
[Amended 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
If any inoperable vehicle or vehicles, as defined herein, shall be abandoned, kept, located or stored on roadways or private lands in the Township of Medford for a period of more than 72 hours, it shall be presumed that the owner or tenant in possession of said land or property has abandoned, kept, located or stored at his property, or permitted or suffered it to be abandoned, kept, located or stored on said property, and the owner of said property shall be responsible for the violation in accordance with § 137-2 hereof.
[Amended 11-8-2005, by Ord. No. 2005-21; 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-4]
A. 
The Township Manager, through the Zoning Official and the Police Department, shall enforce the provisions of this chapter, hereinafter referred to as "enforcing official."
B. 
Upon discovery of an alleged violation of this chapter, the enforcing official shall serve written notice, either by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested, on the owner of the vehicle and/or property where the violation has occurred, ordering the removal of said vehicle within five days of the date of said notice. The notice shall include notification that if the vehicle is not removed, a summons and/or complaint will be issued. In the event said vehicle is not removed prior to five days from the date of said notice, the enforcing official shall cause a summons and/or complaint to be issued.
The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to automobile repair shops, auto body shops or service stations to the extent that these uses are regulated concerning inoperable and/or unregistered vehicles awaiting repair as set forth in the Medford Township Development Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. DR, Development Regulations.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity convicted of a violation of this chapter or any section thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the sentencing court. Each day that such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense or violation, and each vehicle, if there be more than one, shall constitute a separate offense herein. In addition to any fine imposed hereunder, the court may order the removal of said vehicle, at the owner's sole expense.