[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Stratford 7-10-1989. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 8-13-2012 by Ord. No. 12-17]
A.
Vehicles that are a menace to traffic or public health and safety.
Upon the discovery, by any police officer of the Town, of any motor
vehicle, whether situated within or without any highway of this state,
which due to its location is a menace to traffic or public health
or safety, said police officer is authorized to immediately take such
motor vehicle into his custody and cause the same to be taken to and
stored in a suitable place.
B.
Abandoned motor vehicles. Any person who abandons a motor vehicle,
whether registered or unregistered, on streets within the limits of
the Town or on any Town property or on private property owned by a
party other than the owner of the motor vehicle or a person engaged
in the business of towing disabled or abandoned motor vehicles, without
his consent, for a period longer than 24 hours, shall be subject to
a fine of $150. The last owner of record of a motor vehicle found
abandoned, as shown by the files of the Department of Motor Vehicles,
shall be deemed to have been the owner of such motor vehicle at the
time it was abandoned and the person who abandoned the same or caused
or procured its abandonment.
C.
Notification sticker.
(1)
Any police officer of the Town, upon discovery of any motor vehicle
apparently abandoned or a motor vehicle without proper registration,
shall affix to such motor vehicle a notification sticker in a manner
so as to be readily visible. This notification sticker shall contain
the following information:
(a)
The date and time the notification sticker was affixed to the
motor vehicle;
(b)
A statement that, pursuant to this chapter and state statute,
if the vehicle is not removed within 24 hours of the time the sticker
was affixed it shall be taken into custody and stored at the owner's
expense;
(c)
The location and telephone number where additional information
may be obtained; and
(d)
The identity of the affixing officer.
(2)
If the motor vehicle is not removed within such twenty-four-hour
period, the Stratford Police Department shall tow such motor vehicle
and cause the same to be stored in a place designated by the Chief
of Police.
D.
Disposition of the vehicle pursuant to state law. If the vehicle
is apparently abandoned, a menace to traffic or has no registration
marker plates or has invalid registration marker plates, the Stratford
Police Department shall follow the procedures set forth in Connecticut
General Statutes Section 14-150(d) through Section 14-150(j), inclusive,
relative to the disposition of said vehicle.
Any person who is engaged in the business of
towing disabled or abandoned motor vehicles who is found in violation
of the above section shall pay a fine of $100 for each violation.
[Amended 8-13-2012 by Ord. No. 12-17]
The Stratford Police Department is authorized to impound and
dispose of such abandoned motor vehicles, and the cost of such disposal
shall be levied against the owner of such abandoned motor vehicle
in addition to any fine provided by this chapter. Any such costs or
fines levied pursuant to this chapter that remain unpaid for more
than 30 days from the date that such payment was due shall constitute
a lien on the owner’s motor vehicle.
