§ 9-51. Junked or inoperative vehicles.

It is declared unlawful and a public nuisance for any owner of any motor vehicle to violate any of the provisions in this section or for any property owner or occupant to allow a violation of this section to exist.

(a)

Definitions.

Abandon shall mean to give up or leave without intending to return or claim again any motor vehicle on public property or on private property within the permission of the property owner.

Derelict means any motor vehicle which is a state of evident disuse, neglect or abandonment; is wrecked or partially dismantled having no motor, engine, transmission, or other major parts necessary for operation; has vegetation underneath as high as the body or frame; has refuse or debris collected underneath; is being used solely for storage purposes; does not have all tires inflated; does not display a current valid license tag; or which threatens or endangers public health, safety and welfare.

Motor vehicle means any motorized vehicle, motorcycle, moped, motorized scooter, bus, trailer, truck, semitrailer, house trailer, road tractor, or truck tractor as defined in section 316.003, Florida Statutes, as may be amended from time to time.

(b)

Abandoned, derelict, inoperative or junked motor vehicle, or any parts thereof, left upon the public streets, alleys or rights-of-way, or upon any private property within the city limits are hereby declared a nuisance to the general public. A motor vehicle that does not possess a current state license tag and/or is not in running condition, or does not have the equipment required by F.S. Ch. 316, is deemed to be inoperative.

(c)

It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in possession or control of any abandoned, derelict, inoperative or junked motor vehicle, or any parts thereof, to leave same abandoned, derelict or inoperative upon the public streets, alleys or rights-of-way, or upon any other public property within the city. No person shall abandon any motor vehicle upon any public property within the city for a period of time in excess of twenty-four (24) hours.

(d)

It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in control of any such property as described herein, or the owner, occupant, tenant, lessee, person in control or person in possession of any real property within the city to permit or suffer the same to be left on any privately owned property unless the same is enclosed within a garage or other authorized structure or unless the same is authorized in conjunction with a business operated pursuant to the laws of the city. No person shall abandon any motor vehicle upon any private property for a period of time in excess of ten (10) days.

(e)

This section shall not apply to a motor vehicle in an enclosed garage.

(Code 1972, §§ 22-28, 22-29; Ord. No. 86-A, § 2, 12-14-93; Ord. No. 509, § 7, 1-26-10)