[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Hellertown 5-17-2004 by Ord. No. 663. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
It shall be unlawful for any person, owner or lessee to maintain
a motor vehicle nuisance outside of an enclosed structure on the private
grounds of such person, owner or lessee within the Borough of Hellertown
or upon any public grounds owned by the Borough of Hellertown. A motor
vehicle nuisance shall include, but is not limited to, any vehicle
which is unable to move under its own power and has any of the following
physical defects:
[Added 8-21-2006 by Ord. No. 694]
Broken windshields, mirrors, or other glass with sharp edges.
One or more flat or open tires or tubes which would permit vermin
harborage.
Missing doors, windows, hood, trunk, or other body parts which
could permit animal harborage.
Any body part with sharp edges, including holes resulting from
rust.
Missing tires resulting in unsafe suspension of the motor vehicle.
Upholstery which is torn or open which could permit animal and/or
vermin harborage.
Broken headlamps or taillamps with sharp edges.
Disassembled chassis parts apart from the motor vehicle, stored
in a disorderly fashion or loose in or on the vehicle.
Protruding sharp objects from the chassis.
Broken vehicle frame suspended from the ground in an unstable
manner.
Leaking or damaged oil pan or gas tank which could cause fire
or explosion.
Exposed battery containing acid.
Inoperable locking mechanisms for doors or trunk.
Open or damaged floorboards, including trunk and fire wall.
Damaged bumpers pulled away from the perimeter for the vehicle.
Broken grill with protruding edges.
Loose or damaged metal trim and clips.
Broken communications equipment antenna.
Suspended or unstable supports.
Such other defects which could threaten the health, safety and
welfare of the citizens of the Borough of Hellertown.
Given its current state of repair, is not capable of being used
for the principal purpose(s) for which it is constructed or maintained
and which condition would permit vermin harboring and/or such other
condition to constitute a detriment to the health, safety and welfare
of any person.
[Added 3-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 817]
Be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair or in the process
of being stripped, dismantled or restored, which shall include any
portions of disassembled vehicles and/or assembled or disassembled
vehicle parts and which condition would permit vermin harboring or
other such condition to constitute a detriment to the health, safety
and welfare of any person.
[Added 3-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 817]
An article designed for travel by the use of wheels, treads,
runners, propellers or slides, the principal purpose of which is to
transport persons, property and/or goods on or through a medium and
shall include, without limitation, automobiles, trucks, trailers,
motorcycles, tractors, snowmobiles and boats or other items of mechanical
conveyance.
A vehicle (other than a pedalcycle) shall be deemed to be
abandoned under any of the following circumstances:
[Added 3-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 817; amended 4-16-2018 by Ord. No. 822]
The vehicle is physically inoperable and or is left unattended
on a highway or other public property or private property for more
than 48 hours.
The vehicle has remained illegally on a highway or other public
property or private property for a period of more than 48 hours.
The vehicle has remained on private property without the consent
of the owner or person in control of the property.
A vehicle, as defined in this chapter, which meets the definition
of "nuisance" and which has been stored on the premises outside of
an enclosed structure, which shall be defined as having four walls
and a roof, or covered by an opaque tarp, for a period in excess of
15 days.
[Amended 8-21-2006 by Ord. No. 694; 3-20-2017 by Ord. No. 817]
[Amended 8-21-2006 by Ord. No. 694; 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 775; 3-20-2017 by Ord. No. 817]
A.
It shall be deemed a violation of this chapter for the owner or legal
tenant of any property or premises to park or store (in the open)
outside of an enclosed structure, defined as having four walls and
a roof or covered by an approved opaque covering, any junked vehicle
or vehicles or to permit another to park or store in the open any
junked vehicle or vehicles or to permit another to park or store in
the open any junked vehicle or vehicle when such use constitutes a
nuisance and/or poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of
the public.
B.
When a law enforcement officer and/or Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough shall determine that a junked vehicle (as defined in § 430-1 of this chapter) is being maintained on a property in violation of the terms of this chapter, said officer and/or Code Enforcement Officer shall notify the owner of the subject property by certified mail and shall order said owner to abate the violation and come into full compliance with the terms of this chapter within 15 days from the receipt of the notification. Should the certified mail be returned or unclaimed the law enforcement officer and/or Code Enforcement Officer shall notify the owner by regular first class mail.
C.
If the owner of a junked motor vehicle cannot be located or does
not remove the vehicle, the Borough Code Enforcement Officer shall
contact the Hellertown Police Department, which is authorized to remove
said vehicle under Transportation, 67 Pa. Code Chapter 253, titled
"Salvors," and Vehicles, Title 75, Chapter 73, the Abandoned Vehicles
and Cargos Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[1]
[Amended 4-16-2018 by Ord. No. 822]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 7301 et seq.
D.
The Borough of Hellertown shall have the right to forgo the fifteen-day
waiting period and immediately remove any vehicle that violates this
chapter and poses an immediate threat to the general public or property.
All costs incurred by this removal shall be done at the owner's
expense. The Borough of Hellertown shall have sole discretion of what
is deemed to be an immediate threat to the general public or property.
[Added 4-16-2018 by Ord.
No. 822]
[Added 3-20-2017 by Ord.
No. 817[1]]
A.
This section is enacted under authority of § 6109(a)(22)
of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 6109(a)(22), and gives
authority to the Borough to remove and impound those abandoned vehicles
which are parked on a public street, or private property without the
consent of the property owner.
B.
When a law enforcement officer of the Borough and/or Borough Code Enforcement Officer shall determine that an abandoned vehicle, as defined in § 430-1, is being maintained on public property or upon private property in violation of the terms of this chapter, said officer shall notify the owner of the vehicle by certified mail. The notice shall order said owner to remove the vehicle from the public street or private property, and to come into full compliance with the terms of this chapter within 72 hours from receipt of notification that the vehicle is in violation of this chapter. Should the certified mail be returned unclaimed, the law enforcement officer shall notify the owner of the vehicle by regular first-class mail. Upon notification or upon the regular mail not being returned within 15 days the law enforcement officer shall cause to be affixed to the vehicle a notice setting forth the registration or VIN number, state, location of the vehicle, date and time of placement of the notice of violation and maximum fine, and of the right of the Borough to impound the vehicle at the owner's expense if the abandoned vehicle is not moved within 72 hours from receipt of notice as set forth in this section.
[Amended 4-16-2018 by Ord. No. 822]
C.
In the event the owner of the abandoned vehicle cannot be located
or shall not comply with the requirements of this chapter, the Borough
Code Enforcement Officer shall contact the Hellertown Police Department,
which is authorized to remove and impound an abandoned vehicle under
Transportation, 67 Pa. Code Chapter 253, titled "Salvors" and Vehicles,
Title 75, Chapter 73, the Abandoned Vehicles and Cargos Code of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[2]
[Amended 4-16-2018 by Ord. No. 822]
[2]
Editor's Note: See 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 7301 et seq.
[Amended 9-17-2012 by Ord. No. 775; 3-20-2017 by Ord. No. 817]
A.
Any person,
firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter
shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not
less than $50 but not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default
of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to
exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues
or each section of this chapter which shall be found to have been
violated shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
It shall be deemed a continuous violation of this chapter should
any owner of a junked and/or abandoned vehicle or vehicles attempt
to avoid the intent of the chapter by removing the junked and/or abandoned
vehicle or vehicles from the property and placing said vehicle or
vehicles in an enclosed structure, as defined in this chapter, during
the fifteen-day notice period only to return the same or another vehicle
or vehicles owned by the aggrieved property owner to an area of the
property outside an enclosed structure that would meet the definition
of a junked and/or abandoned vehicle or vehicles, as defined in this
chapter, within six months of receiving the initial notice of violation.
C.
The Borough of Hellertown shall have the right to forgo the fifteen-day
waiting period and immediately remove any vehicle that violates this
chapter and poses an immediate threat to the general public or property.
All costs incurred by this removal shall be done at the owner's
expense. The Borough of Hellertown shall have sole discretion of what
is deemed to be an immediate threat to the general public or property.
