San Ramon Municipal Code Ch. VII Inoperative and Abandoned Vehicles

Highway Inoperative vehicle Owner of the land Owner of the vehicle Public property Vehicle

B6-199 and B6-200. - Reserved.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 185

B6-201. - Public hearing. B6-202. - Conduct of hearing. B6-203. - Appeal to city council. B6-204. - Time limit for removal. B6-205. - Notice to department of motor vehicles. B6-206. - Charges included in tax bill. B6-207. - Unlawful to abandon or keep vehicles of type regulated by this chapter. B6-208. - Unlawful to fail to remove vehicles after order to do so. B6-209 and B6-210. - Reserved.

As used in this chapter: 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. Inoperative vehicle means a motor vehicle which is not capable of being driven upon a highway or not currently registered with the department of motor vehicles to be operated upon any highway. 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. Owner of the vehicle means the last registered owner and legal owner of record. Public property does not include "highway." Vehicle means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, except a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

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. Nothing in this section shall authorize the maintenance of a public or private nuisance as defined under provisions of law other than Chapter 10 (commencing with § 22650) of Division 11 of the Vehicle Code and this chapter.) (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

This Chapter is not the exclusive regulation of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles within the city. It shall supplement and be in addition to the other regulatory codes, statutes and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the city, the state or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction. City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 186

(Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the chief of police. In the enforcement of this chapter, such officer or officer's designees may enter upon private or public property to examine a vehicle or parts thereof, or 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. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

When the city council has contracted with or granted a franchise to any person or persons, 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 chapter. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

The city council 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. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

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, constitutes a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and code. Upon discovering the existence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or parts thereof, on private property or public property within the city, the chief of police shall have the authority to cause the abatement and removal thereof in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this chapter. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

A ten-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle or parts thereof as a public nuisance shall be mailed by registered mail to the owner of the land on which the vehicle is located and to the owner of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. The notices of intention shall be in substantially the following forms: 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)

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 187

As owner shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the land located at (address), you are hereby notified that the undersigned, pursuant to Chapter VII of DIVISION B6 of TITLE B, City of San Ramon Municipal Code, has determined that there exists upon said land an (or parts of an) abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle registered to (name), _______ license number , which constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to the provisions of Chapter VII of DIVISION B6 of TITLE B of the City of San Ramon Municipal Code. You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) within ten (10) days from the date of mailing of this notice, and upon your failure to do so the same will be abated and removed by the City and the costs thereof, together with administrative costs, assessed to you as owner of the land on which said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) is located. As owner of the land on which said vehicle (or said parts of a 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 Chief of Police or the Chief of Police's duly authorized designee within such ten (10) day period, the Chief of Police shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) as a public nuisance and assess the costs as aforesaid without a public hearing. You may submit a sworn written statement within such ten (10) day period denying responsibility for the presence of said vehicle (or said parts of a 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/s/___________ (date) /s/,Chief of Police 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 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 of Municipal Code) has determined that said vehicle (or parts of a 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 Chapter VII of DIVISION B6 of TITLE B of the City of San Ramon Municipal Code. You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) within ten (10) days from the date of mailing of this notice. As registered (and/or legal) owner of record of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle), 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 Chief of Police or the Chief of Police's duly authorized deputy within such ten (10) day period, the Chief of Police shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) without a hearing. Notice Mailed (date) /s/___________, Chief of Police

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 188

(Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

B6-199 and B6-200. - Reserved.

Upon request by the owner of the vehicle or owner of the land received by the chief of police within ten days after the mailing of the notices of intention to abate and remove, a public hearing shall be held by the chief of police or the chief of police's duly authorized designee (hereinafter referred to as "hearing officer") 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 administrative costs and the cost of removal of the vehicle or parts thereof against the property on which it is located. If such a request for hearing is not received within the ten days after mailing of the notice of intention to abate and remove, the city shall have the authority to abate and remove the vehicle or parts thereof as a public nuisance without holding a public hearing. If the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on the owner's land within such ten-day period, the statement shall be construed as a request for a hearing which does not require the owner's presence. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed by registered mail at least ten days before the hearing to the owner of the land and to the owner of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

All hearings under this chapter shall be held before the hearing officer who shall hear all relevant facts and testimony. Such facts and testimony may include testimony on the condition of the vehicle or parts thereof and the circumstances concerning its location on the said private property or public property. The hearing officer 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 the reasons for such denial. The hearing officer may impose such conditions and take such other action as he or she deems appropriate under the circumstances to carry out the purpose of this chapter. The hearing officer may delay the time for removal of the vehicle or parts thereof if, in his or her opinion, the circumstances justify it. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the hearing officer may find that a vehicle or parts thereof has been abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or 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 at the site. 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 the owner of the land has not subsequently acquiesced in its presence, the hearing officer shall not assess the costs 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.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 189

If the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on owner's land but does not appear, or if an interested party makes a written presentation to the hearing officer but does not appear, such person shall be notified in writing of the decision. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

Any interested party may appeal the decision of the hearing officer by filing a written notice of appeal with the said hearing officer within five days after the hearing officer's decision. Such appeal shall be heard by the city council which may affirm, amend or reverse the order or take other action deemed appropriate.conducting The city clerk shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the appellant and those persons specified in Section B6-197 of this chapter. In the hearing the city council shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

Five days after adoption of the order declaring the vehicle or parts thereof to be a public nuisance, five days from the date of mailing of notice of the decision if such notice is required by Section B6-199 of this chapter, or fifteen days after such action of the governing body 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. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

Within five 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 of registration available, including registration certificates, certificates of title and license plates. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

If the administrative costs and the cost of removal which are charged against the owner of a parcel of land pursuant to Section B6-199 of this chapter are not paid within thirty 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 pursuant to Section 38773.5 of the California Government Code and shall be transmitted to the tax collector for collection. Such assessment shall have the same priority as other city taxes. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 190

It is unlawful for any person to abandon, park, store or leave or permit the abandonment, parking, storing or leaving of any licensed or unlicensed vehicle or part thereof, which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative condition upon any private property or public property, not including highways within the city, for a period in excess of seventy-two hours, unless such vehicle or parts thereof is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not plainly visible from the street or other public or private property, or unless such vehicle is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer or a junkyard. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

It is unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to remove an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle or part thereof or refuse to abate such nuisance when ordered to do so, in accordance with the abatement provisions of this chapter or state law where such state law is applicable. (Ord. 377 § 2 (part), 2005)

B6-209 and B6-210. - Reserved.