The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the following meanings,
except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different
meaning, or where they are otherwise defined in the Vehicle Code:
ABANDONED VEHICLE
A.Â
A vehicle shall be presumed to be abandoned under any of the
following circumstances, but the presumption is rebuttable by a preponderance
of the evidence:
(1)Â
The vehicle is physically inoperable and is left unattended
on a highway or other public property for more than 48 hours.
(2)Â
The vehicle has remained illegally on a highway or other public
property for a period of more than 48 hours.
(3)Â
The vehicle is left unattended on or along a highway or other
public property for more than 48 hours and does not bear all of the
following: i) a valid registration plate; ii) a current certificate
of inspection; and iii) an ascertainable vehicle identification number.
(4)Â
The vehicle has remained on private property without the consent
of the owner or person in control of the property for more than 24
hours.
(5)Â
The vehicle has remained on the private property of a salvor
for 20 days.
B.Â
The definition of "abandoned vehicle" shall not include vehicles
and equipment used or to be used in construction or in the operation
or maintenance of highways or public utility facilities, which are
left in a manner which does not interfere with the normal movement
of traffic.
INOPERABLE VEHICLE
A vehicle which cannot be driven upon the public streets
for reasons including but not limited to being unlicensed or not properly
licensed, wrecked, abandoned, in a state of disrepair, or incapable
of being moved under its own power.
JUNKED VEHICLE
Any vehicle, or parts thereof, not in running condition left
or stored in the open, and not in such an enclosure as is reasonably
calculated to prevent children from playing on or about such motor
vehicle and/or detrimental to the general appearance and character
of the immediate neighborhood. A junked vehicle includes an inoperable
vehicle.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle, machine or equipment which is powered or self-propelled
and any trailer or semitrailer designed for use with such vehicles.
PERSON
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company, or any organization of any kind.
SALVOR
A person engaged in the business of acquiring abandoned vehicles
for the purpose of taking apart, recycling, selling, rebuilding, or
exchanging the vehicles or parts thereof or other person that has
received an authorization from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
as set forth in Section 7301 of the Vehicle Code.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used
exclusively upon rails or tracks. The term does not include a self-propelled
wheelchair or an electrical mobility device operated by and designed
for the exclusive use of a person with a mobility-related disability.
A vehicle includes a motor vehicle.
VEHICLE CODE
Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, 75 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 101 et seq.
Vehicles classified as abandoned or junked pursuant to §Â
342-3 or
342-4 of this chapter may be parked or stored only on property that is under a valid zoning permit, which permits such parking or storage, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2310.