Part 1 — Title and Findings

Chapter 5 of Article 4 of the Carson Municipal Code may be cited as "The Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance" of the City of Carson. (Ord. 73-259 § 1)

In addition to and in accordance with the determination made and the authority granted by the State of California under Section 22660 of the Vehicle Code to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof as public nuisances, the City Council hereby makes the following findings and declarations:

The accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof on private or public property not including highways is hereby found to create a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, to create a harborage for rodents and insects and to be injurious to the health, safety and general welfare. Therefore, the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or parts thereof, on private or public property not including highways, except as expressly hereinafter permitted, is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. (Ord. 73-259 § 1)

Part 1A General Provisions

As used in this Chapter, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

• (a) The term "vehicle" means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway except a device designed to be moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

• (b) The term "highway" means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. Highway includes street.

• (c) The term "public property" does not include "highway."

• (d) The term "owner of the land" means the owner of the land on which the vehicle, or parts thereof, is located, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll.

• (e) The term "owner of the vehicle" means that last registered owner and legal owner of record.

• (f) The term "City Administrator" means the City Administrator or the person designated in writing by the City Administrator to act in the City Administrator's place.

• (Ord. 73-259 § 1; Ord. 84-676 § 2)

This Chapter shall not apply to:

• (a) A vehicle, or parts thereof, which is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not visible from the street or other public or private property; or

• (b) A vehicle, or parts thereof, which is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, a junk dealer, or when such storage or parking is necessary to the operation of a lawfully conducted business or commercial enterprise.

• (c) A vehicle or parts thereof which is directly behind a solid fence six (6) feet in height or which is not plainly visible from a highway.

Nothing in this Section or Chapter shall authorize the maintenance of a public or private nuisance as defined under provisions of law other than Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22660) of Division 11 of the Vehicle Code and this Chapter.

(Ord. 73-259 § 1)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Chapter shall be administered and enforced by the City Administrator.

• (a) Upon discovering the existence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof, on private property or public property within the City of Carson, the City Administrator shall have the authority to cause the abatement and removal thereof in accordance with the procedure prescribed herein.

• (b) In the enforcement of this Chapter such officer and his deputies may enter upon private or public property to examine a vehicle or parts thereof, obtain information as to the identity of a vehicle and to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle or parts thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to this Chapter.

• (c) The City Administrator shall from time to time determine and fix an amount to be assessed as administrative costs (excluding the actual cost of removal of any vehicle or parts thereof) under this Chapter.

• (Ord. 73-259 § 1; Ord. 84-676 § 3)

It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to abandon, park, store or leave, or permit the abandonment, parking, storing or leaving of any vehicle, or part thereof, which is subject to removal under the provisions of this Chapter for a period in excess of ten (10) days. (Ord. 73-259 § 1)