Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 10.73 Removal of Abandoned and Other Nuisance Vehicles

In addition 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 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 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 permitted by this chapter, is declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

A. “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.”

B. “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.

C. “Owner of the vehicle” means the last registered owner and legal owner of record.

D. “Public property” does not include “highway.”

E. “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. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

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 or 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 Section 22650) of Division 11 of the Vehicle Code and this chapter. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

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. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

The provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the chief of police; or the city council by resolution shall designate the appropriate authority for administration and enforcement. In the enforcement of this chapter, such officer and his deputies, or such designee and his deputies, may enter upon public or private 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. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

When the city council has contracted with or granted a franchise to any person or persons to perform duties under this chapter, 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. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

The city council shall from time to time determine and fix an amount to be assessed as administrative costs (excluding the actual costs of removal of any vehicle or parts thereof) under this chapter. The cost of administration may be set as a fixed sum per removal, or as a percentage of the actual cost of removal. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

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 or other enforcement officer shall have the authority to cause the abatement and removal thereof in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this chapter. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

A 10-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle, or parts thereof, as a public nuisance shall be mailed by registered or certified mail 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. The notices of intention shall be in substantially the following forms:

A. Notice to Landowner.

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 the Sonoma Municipal Code has determined that there exists upon said land an (or parts of an) abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle registered to _________, license number _____, which constitutes a public nuisance pursuant to the provisions of Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 10.73.

You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) within 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 of Sonoma 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 10 days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request a public hearing and if such a request is not received by the City Council within such 10-day period, the City 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 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 of such hearing.

Notice Mailed

_______________ (date)

City of Sonoma

By ___________________ Enforcement Officer.

B. Notice to Vehicle Owner.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ABATE AND REMOVE AS 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 the Sonoma 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 10.73 of the Sonoma Municipal Code. You are hereby notified to abate said nuisance by the removal of said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) within 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 10 days after the mailing of this notice of intention, request a public hearing and if such a request is not received by the City Council within such 10-day period, the City shall have the authority to abate and remove said vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle) without a hearing.

Notice Mailed

_______________ (date)

City of Sonoma

By ___________________ Enforcement Officer.

(Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

Upon request by the owner of the vehicle or owner of the land received within 10 days after the mailing of the notice of intention to abate and remove, a public hearing shall be held by the city council 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 the owner of the land submits a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his land within such 10-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 10 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. If such a request for hearing is not received within said 10 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. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

All hearings under this chapter shall be held before the city council, or any other board, commissioner or official designated by the city council, which shall hear all facts and testimony it deems pertinent. The 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, denying his responsibility for the presence of the vehicle upon his land. If it is determined at the hearing that the vehicle was placed upon the land without the consent of the landowner and that he has not subsequently acquiesced in its presence, then the city shall not assess costs of administration or removal of the vehicle against the property or otherwise attempt to collect such costs from such landowner. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

Five days after adoption of an order after a hearing 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 to be given to persons not present at the hearing, or 15 days after such action authorizing removal following appeal, the vehicle or parts thereof may be disposed of by removal to a scrapyard or automobile dismantler’s yard, or otherwise as authorized by the Vehicle Code. After a vehicle has been removed it shall not thereafter be reconstructed or made operable, except as authorized by the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

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 or registration available, including but not limited to registration certificates, certificates of title and license plates. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

If the administrative costs and the cost of removal which are charged against the owner of a parcel of land are not paid within 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 pursuant to Section 38773.5 of the Government Code and shall be transmitted to the tax collector for collection. Said assessment shall have the same priority as other city taxes. (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).

No hearing need be held under this chapter if signed releases are provided by the property owner and vehicle owner to authorize removal and waive further interest of the vehicle (or said parts of a vehicle). (Ord. 99-9 § 1, 1999).