Any motor vehicle which is unclaimed and/or abandoned within
the City of Camden is hereby declared to be a nuisance, and the same
may be summarily abated by the removal thereof and impoundment thereof,
as follows:
A. Upon discovery of a vehicle suspected of being unclaimed or abandoned
by an authorized official of the Parking Authority or the Camden County
Police Department, Metro Division, a sticker stating that this vehicle
shall be deemed to be abandoned and unclaimed if not removed within
48 hours shall be affixed to such vehicle by an authorized official
of the Parking Authority or the Camden County Police Department, Metro
Division, unless an authorized official of the Parking Authority or
the Camden County Police Department, Metro Division, determines that
immediate towing is necessary.
B. Upon discovery of a motor vehicle found unclaimed and abandoned by
an authorized official of the Parking Authority or the Camden County
Police Department, Metro Division, the taking of possession shall
be reported immediately to the Director of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 on a form prescribed by said
Director for verification of ownership by the Parking Authority, the
Camden County Police Department, Metro Division, or their agents.
C. Upon discovery of a motor vehicle suspected to be unclaimed and abandoned by an authorized official of the Parking Authority or the Camden County Police Department, Metro Division, and prior to taking possession of said motor vehicle, an authorized official of the Parking Authority, the Camden County Police Department, Metro Division or their agents shall confirm whether the motor vehicle is to be considered stolen. If, after the allotted time as outlined in §
803-2A has expired, the owner of said vehicle has not voluntarily removed said vehicle, said vehicle may be removed under the direction or at the request of any authorized official of the Parking Authority or the Camden County Police Department, Metro Division, by means of towing or otherwise to a storage lot as designated by the Parking Authority or the Camden County Police Department, Metro Division. Upon the removal of a vehicle to a storage lot, the Parking Authority, the Camden County Police Department, Metro Division, or their agents shall institute the notice requirements of N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1.
At any time prior to the sale, the owner of the motor vehicle
or other person entitled to the motor vehicle may reclaim possession
of the motor vehicle upon payment of the costs of removal and storage
of the motor vehicle. Additionally, the fines, penalties and court
costs assessed against the owner or other person entitled to the motor
vehicle which gave rise to the removal and impoundment thereof must
also be paid.
When any towed vehicle has been determined by an authorized
official of the Parking Authority or the Camden County Police Department,
Metro Division, to be eligible for junk title as defined by N.J.S.A.
39:10A-3, junk title may be sought from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission by the Parking Authority, the Camden County Police Department,
Metro Division, or their agents, and the vehicle shall be sold or
otherwise disposed of and such sale or other disposition of the vehicle
shall be made in conformity with N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 and this chapter.
Upon the sale of a motor vehicle to a third-party purchaser
for which standard or junk title cannot be obtained from the New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission, the Parking Authority or the Camden County
Police Department, Metro Division, or their agents acting under approved
contracts, shall provide the purchaser with a bill of sale or other
similar document indicating the purchase made by the third-party purchaser.
The City of Camden, the Parking Authority or the Camden County
Police Department, Metro Division, upon sale or other disposition
of a motor vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, give
no warranties or guaranties of any nature whatsoever. Furthermore,
upon the sale or other disposition of a motor vehicle pursuant to
the provisions of this chapter, all claims of interest therein shall
be forever barred as provided by the laws of the State of New Jersey,
and the City of Camden, the Parking Authority or the Camden County
Police Department, Metro Division, sells, or for other disposition,
otherwise gives up all right, title and interest which they may have
in said motor vehicle and is released from any liability concerning
said sale or other disposition or said taking. Upon the sale or other
disposition of a motor vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter, such liability shall be the responsibility of the purchaser
or the recipient.
The impounding or immobilizing of a motor vehicle shall not
preclude or prevent the institution of prosecution for any criminal
or any other violation of a City ordinance or state statute in any
court of this state, including the Municipal Court, against the owner
or operator of such impounded or immobilized vehicle.