Orange County Municipal Code Art. 8 Abandoned, Wrecked, Dismantled or Inoperative Vehicles

In addition to other statutory authority for the removal of vehicles from public or private property and in accordance with the authority granted by the State of California under section 22669 of the Vehicle Code to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof as public nuisances, the Board of Supervisors 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 for minors, to create a harborage for rodents and insects and to be injurious to 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 article.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

As used in this article:

(a) 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.

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

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

This article is not applicable 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 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.

Nothing in this section shall authorize the maintenance of a public or private nuisance as defined under provisions of law other than this article.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

This article is not the exclusive regulation of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles within the unincorporated area of this County. It shall supplement and be in addition to the other regulatory codes, statutes and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the County, the State, or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

Cross reference— Storage of inoperative, etc., vehicles declared a nuisance, § 3-14-101(d)(2).

Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this article shall be administered and enforced by the Sheriff. In the enforcement of this article such officer and his regularly salaried full-time deputies may enter upon private or public property to examine a vehicle or parts thereof, or obtain information as to the identity of the owner of the vehicle and to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle or parts thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to this article.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

When the Board of Supervisors has contracted with or granted a franchise to any person or persons to do so, such person or persons shall be authorized to enter upon private property or public property to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle or parts thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to this article.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

The Board of Supervisors shall, by resolution, determine and fix an amount to be assessed as costs of administration and removal of any vehicle or parts thereof, under this article.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

Upon discovering the existence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof, on private property or public property within the unincorporated area of the County, the Sheriff shall have the authority to cause the abatement and removal thereof in accordance with the procedure prescribed herein.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

A ten-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle or parts thereof as a public nuisance shall be given unless the owner of the land and the owner of the vehicle have signed releases authorizing removal and waiving further interest in the vehicles or parts thereof. Said notice shall be mailed by registered or certified mail to the owner of the land, and to the owner of the vehicle(s) unless the vehicle(s) is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. The notice of intention shall be in substantially the following forms:

LAND OWNER

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLE OR PARTS THEREOF AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE

"(Name and address of owner of the land)

"As owner shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the land located at (address), you are hereby notified that the undersigned, pursuant to section 6-4-804 of the Codified Ordinances of the County of Orange, California, has determined that there exists upon said land an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof (hereinafter "vehicle"), registered to _______, license number _______, which constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to the provisions of section 6-4-800 of said Codified Ordinances.

"You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle or parts thereof, within ten (10) days of the date of mailing of this notice, and upon your failure to do so the same will be abated and removed by the County, with administrative costs, assessed to you as owner of the land on which said vehicle is located. Upon removal, said vehicle(s) shall not be reconstructed or made operable unless it qualifies for either horseless carriage license plates or historical vehicle license plates pursuant to section 5004 of the Vehicle Code.

"As owner of the land on which said vehicle is located, you are hereby notified that you may, within ten (10) days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request a public hearing; and if such a request is not received by the Sheriff within such ten-day period, the Sheriff shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle as a public nuisance and assess the cost as aforesaid without a public hearing. You may submit a sworn written statement within such ten-day period denying responsibility for the presence of said vehicle on said land, with your reasons for denial, and such statement shall be construed as a request for hearing at which your presence is not required. You may appear in person at any hearing requested by you or the owner of the vehicle or, in lieu thereof, may present a sworn written statement as aforesaid in time for consideration at such hearing.

Notice mailed _____ . (date) /s/ _____ Sheriff"

VEHICLE OWNER

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AN ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLE OR PARTS THEREOF AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE

"(Name and address of last registered and/or legal owner of record of vehicle. Notice should be given to both if different.)

"As the last registered (and/or legal) owner of record of (description of vehicle-make, model, license, etc.), you are hereby notified that the undersigned, pursuant to section 6-4-804 of the Codified Ordinances of the County of Orange, California, has determined that said vehicle, or parts thereof (hereinafter "vehicle"), exists as an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle at (describe location on public or private property) and constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to the provisions of section 6-4-800 of said Codified Ordinances.

"You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle within ten (10) days after the mailing of this notice. You are further notified that you may, within ten (10) days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request a public hearing; and if such a request is not received by the Sheriff within such ten-day period, the Sheriff shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle without a hearing. Upon removal said vehicle(s) shall not be reconstructed or made operable unless it qualifies for either horseless carriage license plates or historical vehicle license plates pursuant to section 5004 of the Vehicle Code.

Notice mailed _____ . (date) /s/ _____ Sheriff"

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89; Ord. No. 05-021, § 1, 11-22-05)

Upon request by the owner of the vehicle or owner of the land received by the Sheriff within ten (10) days after the mailing of the notices of the intention to abate and remove, a public hearing shall be held by the Sheriff or his designee on the question of abatement and removal of the vehicle or parts thereof as an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, and the assessment of the administration cost and the costs of removal of the vehicle or parts thereof against the property on which it is located.

If the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his land within such ten-day period, said statement shall be construed as a request for a hearing which does not require his presence. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed, by registered or certified mail, at least ten (10) days before the hearing to the owner of the land, and to the owner of the vehicle, if known. If such a request for hearing is not received within said ten (10) days after mailing of the notice of intention to abate and remove, the Sheriff shall have the authority to abate and remove the vehicle as a public nuisance without holding a public hearing.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

All hearings under this article shall be held before the Sheriff or his designee, who shall hear all facts and testimony he deems pertinent. Said facts and testimony may include testimony on the condition of the vehicle or parts thereof and the circumstances concerning its location on said private or public property. The Sheriff or his designee shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence. The owner of the land may appear in person at the hearing or present a sworn written statement in time for consideration at the hearing, and deny responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on the land, with his reasons for such denial.

The Sheriff or his designee may impose such conditions and take such other action as he deems appropriate under the circumstances to carry out the purpose of this article. He may delay the time for removal of the vehicle or parts thereof if, in his opinion, the circumstances justify it. At the conclusion of the public hearing, he may find that a vehicle or parts thereof has been abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or is inoperative on private or public property and order the same removed from the property as a public nuisance and disposed of as hereinafter provided and determine the administrative costs and the cost of removal to be charged against the owner of the land. The order requiring removal shall include a description of the vehicle or parts thereof and the correct identification number and license number of the vehicle, if available. Such order shall be in writing.

If it is determined at the hearing that the vehicle was placed on the land without the consent of the owner of the land and that he has not subsequently acquiesced in its presence, the Sheriff or his designee shall not assess the cost of administration or removal of the vehicle against the property upon which the vehicle is located or otherwise attempt to collect such costs from such owner of the land.

If the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his land but does not appear, he shall be notified by registered or certified mail of the decision. If the owner of the vehicle requested the hearing, but does not appear, he shall be notified by registered or certified mail of the decision.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

(a) The owner of the land or the owner of the vehicle who requested a public hearing by the Sheriff may appeal the decision of the Sheriff by filing a written notice of appeal with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within five (5) days after the Sheriff's decision.

(b) The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors shall give written notice, by registered or certified mail, of the time and place of the hearing to the Sheriff, the appellant, and if different from the appellant, the owner of the land or the owner of the vehicle, if known. Such appeal shall be heard by a Hearing Officer, who may affirm, amend or reverse the Sheriff's decision or take other action he or she deems appropriate.

(c) In conducting the hearing, the Hearing Officer shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence. The decision of the Hearing Officer shall be in writing and shall be final. The Sheriff, the appellant, and if different from the appellant, the owner of the land or the owner of the vehicle, if known, shall be notified of the Hearing Officer's decision by registered or certified mail.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89; Ord. No. 05-021, § 2, 11-22-05)

Ten (10) days after adoption of the order declaring the vehicle or parts thereof to be a public nuisance, or ten (10) days from the date of mailing the notice of the decision if such notice is required by this article, or fifteen (15) days after the decision of the Hearing Officer authorizing removal following appeal, the vehicle or parts thereof may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard or automobile dismantler's yard. After a vehicle has been removed, it shall not thereafter be reconstructed or made operable, unless it is a vehicle that qualifies for either horseless carriage license plates or historical vehicle license plates, pursuant to Vehicle Code § 5004, in which case the vehicle may be reconstructed or made operable.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89; Ord. No. 05-021, § 3, 11-22-05)

Within five (5) days after the date of removal of the vehicle or parts thereof, notice shall be given to the Department of Motor Vehicles identifying the vehicle or parts thereof removed. At the same time there shall be transmitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles any evidence or registration available, including but not limited to registration card, certificates of ownership or license plates.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)

If the administrative costs and the cost of removal which are charged against the owner of the parcel of land pursuant to section 6-4-806 are not paid within thirty (30) days of the date of the order, or the final disposition of an appeal therefrom, such costs shall be assessed against the parcel of land and collected pursuant to section 25845 of the Government Code.

(Ord. No. 3768, § 2, 11-7-89)