[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Mansfield 4-25-1994,
effective 5-20-1994. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Abandoned Vehicles
Ordinance."
In accordance with Section 14-150(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes,
an abandoned vehicles ordinance is established. The purpose of this chapter
is to provide for the removal of abandoned, inoperable or unregistered vehicles
from all municipal property within the limits of the Town of Mansfield.
As used in this chapter, the following words or phrases shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in this section:
Having the appearance that the owner has relinquished possession
without the intention of reclaiming it.
Any item of personal property which is incapable of performing the
function for which it was designed by virtue of missing parts, or broken or
severely damaged essential components, thereby rendering the vehicle incapable
of being registered by the state.
Any vehicle propelled or drawn by any power other than muscular,
to include but not be limited to automobiles, trucks, buses, tractors, trailers,
motorcycles and like vehicles.
Any real property owned by the Town of Mansfield which is not a street
or highway.
No person shall abandon or cause to be abandoned any inoperable or unregistered
motor vehicle or any used.parts of such motor vehicle upon municipal property.
The last owner of record of a motor vehicle found to be abandoned, as shown
by the files of the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall be deemed prima facia
to have been the owner of such motor vehicle at the time such vehicle was
abandoned, and the person who caused said vehicle's abandonment.
When it is determined that an abandoned, inoperable or unregistered
motor vehicle or any used parts of such motor vehicle is located on municipal
property, an officer designated by the Town Council shall notify the owner
of said motor vehicle or used motor vehicle parts, if known, in writing, by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, requesting the removal of such
motor vehicle or parts, and shall also provide notice in a newspaper having
substantial circulation in the Town of Mansfield. If such owner has not caused
the removal of said motor vehicle or parts within thirty (30) days after the
receipt of said notification, the town may cause said motor vehicle or parts
to be removed to a licensed motor vehicle junkyard or to an area authorized
by the proper authority for disposal of such vehicle and parts. The town shall
have the right to collect the cost incurred in removing and disposing of such
vehicle or parts from the owner of said vehicle or parts.
Prior to the removal of any abandoned vehicle as provided for in § 179-5 of this chapter, the Director of Public Safety shall give written notification to the State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of the issuance by the town of the aforementioned notices, such notification to include the location of the vehicle, the identification number, if available, and such other description or identification of the vehicle as may assist in establishing the legal ownership of the vehicle.
The Director of Public Safety shall be responsible for giving of all
notice required by this chapter and for the removal and disposition of such
motor vehicles or parts.
