State Law Reference — Disposition of vehicles left unattended
on highways, §304.155, RSMo.
[R.O. 2012 §392.290; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.290, 12-9-1991]
The following words shall have their prescribed meanings when
used in the Article, unless indicated otherwise:
Any vehicle which is not registered or improperly registered
with the State of Missouri; has been inoperable for more than seventy
(72) hours or is in such a state or repair as to be inoperable, except
those on the premises of a duly licensed automobile repair or sales
business; or in a duly licensed automobile junking yard.
Any metal, glass, paper, rags, wood machinery parts, cloth,
or other waste or discarded material of any nature or substance whatsoever,
or scrap or salvage materials.
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
or other organization of any kind.
Any land owned by the City or located within the City Limits,
not including streets and highways.
The entire area between the boundary lines of every publicly
maintained way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public
for purposes of vehicular travel.
Any machine propelled by power other than human power designed
to travel along the ground by use of wheels, treads, runners, or slides,
including, but not limited to automobiles, trucks, trailers, motorcycles,
tractors, buggies, and wagons, or any part thereof.
[R.O. 2012 §392.300; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.300, 12-9-1991]
Any damaged or disabled vehicle, part thereof, or junk, located
on any property, street, or highway which presents a hazard to children,
or harbors tall grass, weeds, or other vegetation, or creates a fire
hazard, or affords a breeding place or nesting place for mosquitoes,
flies, rodents, rats, or other vermin; or any vehicle, part thereof,
or junk, allowed to remain unmoved on any street or highway for seventy
(72) hours, is a public nuisance.
[R.O. 2012 §392.310; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.310, 12-9-1991]
It shall be unlawful for any person to create or maintain a nuisance as defined in Section 392.300.
[R.O. 2012 §392.320; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.320, 12-9-1991; Ord. No. 16-12-04 § 3, 12-19-2016]
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer, or his/her duly authorized representative, determines that any vehicle or junk is a nuisance as defined herein, he/she shall cause written notice to be served upon the owner of the vehicle or junk, if he/she can be located, or the person in custody of such vehicle or junk. The notice shall state that the vehicle or junk is deemed to be a nuisance within the provisions of Section 392.300 hereof, and shall briefly state facts deemed to constitute such vehicle or junk a nuisance within the terms of this Article, and state that the nuisance shall be abated within ten (10) days from receipt of such notice.
[R.O. 2012 §392.330; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.330, 12-9-1991; Ord. No. 16-12-04 § 4, 12-19-2016]
When the owner or custodian of any nuisance, as defined in Section 392.300, cannot be located by reasonable search, the notice shall be attached to the property, briefly stating facts deemed to constitute the property a nuisance and stating that the nuisance shall be abated within ten (10) days of the date notice was posted, or if the vehicle is on public property, within seventy (72) hours of the time of notice being posted.
[R.O. 2012 §392.340; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.340, 12-9-1991]
Any person receiving the notice provided for above shall comply
with the provisions of he notice requiring abatement. Failure to comply
with this provision is unlawful.
[R.O. 2012 §392.350; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.350, 12-9-1991]
If not removed within the times specified in the notice, the
vehicle or junk shall be transported to a storage area by, or at the
direction of, the Building Inspector or his duly authorized representative
at the expense of the owner or person in custody thereof. It shall
then be stored for a period of at least sixty (60) days, and the person
entitled to possession thereof may redeem the property by payment
to the City of the cost of its removal and a reasonable storage fee.
If the vehicle or junk is unredeemed after the expiration of the sixty
(60) day period, the Building Inspector may sell it to the highest
bidder or, if it has no value, may otherwise dispose of it. Any money
received from disposal of any vehicle or junk shall be applied to
the expenses charged to the owner or person in charge thereof.
[R.O. 2012 §392.360; CC 1973 §22-70]
In the event that payment of the costs and expenses or removal
of any vehicle under the provisions of this Article is not made on
demand, such costs shall be assessed against the property on which
such vehicle was located, as provided by law in the case of special
assessments, and such costs shall be collected by the City Collector
as taxes assessed against the property. Such costs and expenses shall,
like taxes, be a first lien on the property affected thereby until
paid.
[R.O. 2012 §392.370; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.370, 12-9-1991]
A.
Prior
to the sale of any such property, Building Inspector shall cause to
be posted a notice of sale stating:
1.
The City is selling abandoned property;
2.
The color, make, year, motor number, and serial number, if available,
and any other information necessary for an accurate identification
of the property;
3.
The terms of the sale;
4.
The date, time, and place of the sale. This notice shall be posted
not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the
date of the sale.
[R.O. 2012 §392.380; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.380, 12-9-1991]
The Building Inspector, or his duly authorized representative,
may enter upon private property for inspection or for purpose of removing
any vehicle or junk in accordance with this Article. If any person
refuses to allow entry onto his private property, the Building Inspector
may obtain a warrant for the proper official and proceed in accordance
therewith.
[R.O. 2012 §392.390; Ord. No. 91-12-8 §392.390, 12-9-1991]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Article shall
be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation. Each day of violation
shall be deemed a separate offense.
