Chapter 5.60 — AUTO WRECKING

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, conduct, manage or carry on the business of an auto wrecker except in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.

(a)

Auto Wrecking Establishment. Any Premises on which any person engages in the occupation of an auto wrecker;

(b)

Auto Wrecker. Every person who buys, sells, exchanges, otherwise deals in, or in any other manner comes into possession of any motor vehicle as defined in the State Vehicle Code, for the purpose of dismantling or disassembling, or who dismantles or disassembles any such motor vehicles, whether for the purpose of selling, utilizing, or otherwise disposing of the component parts of such vehicle, or for the purpose of selling, utilizing, or otherwise disposing of the component materials of such vehicle as junk or otherwise.

(Prior code § 5510.1; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

No person shall carry on the business of an auto wrecker without first obtaining a permit therefore.

(Prior code § 5510.3; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

Each Application for any such permit shall be made on a form provided by the Planning Commission for such purpose. Such Application shall be accompanied by an accurate plot plan showing the exterior boundaries of the property and the location of all buildings or other structures existing or proposed.

(Prior code § 5510.4; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

If, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, it appears that the business of the Applicant will be in full conformance with this chapter and any other applicable County ordinances, upon payment of the required fee, a permit for twelve (12) months shall be issued. Such permit may be issued at any time during the year and unless previously revoked shall expire on the same date the following year. In case the Planning Commission denies any permit applied for under terms of this chapter, the Applicant may appeal such decision to the Board of Supervisors.

(Prior code § 5510.5; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

The annual fee for permits to engage in the business of an auto wrecker shall be Twenty-Five Dollars ($25) and shall only entitle any person to operate one auto wrecking establishment at a single location. Any person desiring to operate additional auto wrecking establishments shall pay an additional fee of Twenty- Five Dollars ($25) for each such establishment.

(Prior code § 5510.6; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

Any permit granted hereunder shall be subject to revocation or suspension by the Planning Commission in the following manner:

A notice shall be served on the person holding said permit specifying wherein he has failed to comply with this chapter or any other ordinance or with any terms or conditions specified in the permit for such auto wrecking establishment and requiring him to appear before the Planning Commission at a date and hour

specified, not less than five (5) days after the serving of said notice on said permit holder, to show cause at said time and place why said permit should not be revoked or suspended. At such time and place the person holding said permit shall have the right to appear in person or by counsel and to introduce such evidence as he may desire and the Planning Commission shall confront said permit holder with any charges that said Board of Supervisors or Planning Commission or both of them may have against him, and after said hearing, the Planning Commission may, if in its opinion the permit holder has violated the terms of his permit, revoke or suspend said permit. Persons may appeal to the Board of Supervisors regarding the revocation of any such permit.

(Prior code § 5510.7; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

In the event that any person having a permit under the provisions of this chapter desires to sell, transfer or assign such permit to any person to engage in the auto wrecking business, such sale, transfer or assignment may be made upon Application to the Planning Commission and the payment of a transfer fee of Three Dollars ($3).

(Prior code § 5510.8; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

Any auto wrecking establishment shall be conducted entirely within an area completely enclosed by a fence six (6′) feet in height. Fences shall be constructed of such materials and in such a manner as to completely obscure vision and shall conform to all County regulations regarding structures. The whole, or a portion of such fence may be set back from the front property line for a sufficient distance and width to accommodate a display of not more than four (4) reconstructed automobiles in operable condition. Such displayed automobiles shall not project beyond the property line.

(Prior code § 5510.12; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

Every person conducting an auto wrecking business shall, immediately upon receipt of a wrecked or damaged automobile to be dismantled, empty the crank case and gasoline tank completely of their contents so as to avoid danger of fire or explosion.

(Prior code § 5510.13; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

All bodies and other parts of automobiles in an auto wrecking establishment must be piled in an orderly manner, with a sufficient number of clear and adequate passageways to allow free and unobstructed access and movement of the fire department in case of fire. The manner of handling and keeping dismantled automobiles and parts thereof in an auto wrecking establishment shall at all times be subject to the approval of the Fire Warden of the County of San Mateo or of the Fire Chief of any fire district in which the Premises are located.

(Prior code § 5510.14; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

No auto wrecker shall remain open for the purpose of buying or selling wrecked or used automobiles, or parts or accessories thereof, between the hours of 7 P.M. of any day and 7 A.M. of the following day.

(Prior code § 5510.15; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

Every auto wrecker, within forty-eight (48) hours after buying or receiving an automobile, or a wrecked automobile, shall make out and deliver to the Sheriff on a blank form to be obtained from said Sheriff for that purpose, a full, true and complete description of any automobile, or wrecked automobile, so purchased. Such report shall contain:

(a)

The name and address of the person from whom same was purchased or received; and

(b)

The name, state, License number, motor number, serial number, style and seating capacity of any such used motor vehicle purchased or received.

The report of all purchases, assignments and sales or exchanges of motor vehicle shall at all times be open to the inspection of the Sheriff, or any other police officer of the County of San Mateo.

(Prior code § 5510.16; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

No person shall dispose of the whole or any part of any motor or motor vehicle, including tires or any accessories, within five (5) days after the same has been received, unless said person shall have secured a release from the Sheriff allowing him to sell the whole or any portion of such automobile prior to said five (5) day period.

(Prior code § 5510.17; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

No person engaged in conducting or carrying on the business of auto wrecker shall fail, refuse or neglect to keep any record or file any report in the time, form and manner required by this chapter, or fail, refuse or neglect to exhibit to said Sheriff, or any police officer of the County, immediately upon demand for the privilege of inspection, any such record or report.

(Prior code § 5510.18; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

The Sheriff shall file in a secure place in his office, all reports received pursuant to the terms of this chapter, and said reports are to be opened to inspection only by members of the Sheriff's Office, or upon an order

of a court of competent jurisdiction for that purpose.

(Prior code § 5510.19; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)

This chapter shall be known and cited as the Auto Wrecking Business Ordinance of the County of San Mateo.

(Prior code § 5510.20; Ord. 763, 10/21/47)