Chapter 10.34 — ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT

In addition to and in accordance with the determination made and the authority granted by the state under Section 22660 of the Vehicle Code to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof as public nuisances, the city 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 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 hazard to the health and safety of children, 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 part thereof, on private or public property, except as expressly hereinafter permitted, is declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in this chapter.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

As used in this chapter:

"Abandoned vehicle" means a motor vehicle left on a highway, public property or private property in such inoperable or neglected condition that it may be reasonably inferred that the owner's intention is to relinquish all further rights or interests in the vehicle.

A vehicle is presumed to be "abandoned" when it is left on a highway for seventy-two hours or more without being moved, is parked, resting or otherwise immobilized on any highway or public right-of-way and lacks an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield or any other part or equipment necessary to operate safely on the highway. Vehicles found in such a condition on a highway or public right-of-way are presumed to be a hazard to public health, safety and welfare and may be removed immediately upon discovery by a peace officer or other designated employee.

"Collector" means the owner of one or more vehicles who collects, purchases, acquires, trades or disposes of such vehicle(s), or parts thereof, for his or her own use, in order to preserve, restore and maintain such vehicle(s) for hobby or historical purposes.

"Designated employee" means a representative of the Amador County Sheriff and/or Code Enforcement Division of the Amador County District Attorney's Office.

"Dismantled vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is partially or wholly disassembled.

"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 any motor vehicle that cannot move under its own power.

"Public property" includes "streets" and "highways."

"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.

"Wrecked vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is damaged to such an extent that it cannot lawfully be operated upon the highway. A vehicle which has been wrecked in a traffic collision, then removed from the roadway to a storage facility, but not yet claimed by its owner, will not be considered an abandoned vehicle.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

This chapter shall not apply to:

A.

A vehicle or part 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.

Collector may maintain one or more vehicles on private property as long as: (1) vehicles do not constitute a health and safety hazard, i.e., amongst dry grass, broken glass, other refuse, leaking fluids, vehicles or parts thereof stacked atop one another; (2) vehicles shall not be maintained on any public street, private or public rights-of-way or transportation easements; (3) area used for storage of vehicles will not exceed three hundred sixty square feet; and (4) when not fenced or screened from public street visibility will be covered by car cover or tarpaulin or other means as approved by city administrator, or designated employee, or abandoned vehicle authority;

C.

A vehicle or part 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 licensed junk dealer, or when such storage or parking is necessary to the operation of a lawfully conducted business or commercial enterprise.

D.

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

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

The provisions of this chapter are not the exclusive regulation of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles. It is 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. 280 (part), 1996)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this chapter may be administered and enforced by the Amador County Code Enforcement Department, under the authority of the Abandoned Vehicle Authority (AVA). In enforcing this chapter such employees 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; provided, however, that such entry shall be made in a lawful manner.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996; Ord. 357 §2, 2015)

When the board 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; provided, however, that such entry shall be made in a lawful manner.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

The authority, by resolution, 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 part thereof) under this chapter. Such amount shall be based on an analysis of the staff time reasonably necessary to process each case involving the removal of a vehicle, and shall not exceed the good-faith estimate of such administrative costs based on such analysis.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

A.

Unless both the property owner and the owner of the vehicle have signed releases authorizing removal and waiving further interest in the vehicle or part thereof, not less than ten days before the date of intended removal of the vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, a notice of intention to abate and remove the abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle shall be sent by the designated employee by registered or certified mail, to the owner of the land on which the vehicle is located, as shown on the last equalized assessment roll, and to the last registered and legal owners of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. It shall not be a prerequisite to removal of the vehicle pursuant to this section that the return receipt be received showing delivery of the notice.

B.

Such notice of intention shall contain a statement that the owner of the property and the owner of the vehicle have a right to request a hearing before the designated employee, at which hearing the property owner may in lieu of appearing, submit a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on the land, with his reasons for such denial. If such a statement is submitted, it shall be

construed as a request for hearing on the issue of assessment of costs which does not require the presence of the property owner submitting such request, although the submission of such a statement shall not preclude the owner from presenting testimony at the hearing if he or she should decide to do so. If, based on the inspection by the designated employee or his designed representative, there is evidence that a known third party who is not the property owner or the vehicle owner left the vehicle on the property without the consent of the vehicle owner or the property owner, the notice referenced above in this section shall be sent to said third party in the manner specified in this section, at the best known address available to the designated employee. The request shall be made to the designated employee within ten days after the mailing of the notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle. If such a request is not received within such period, the designated employee shall have authority to remove or cause the removal of the vehicle.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

If either the property owner or the vehicle owner requests a hearing within ten days after the mailing of the notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle, the person or persons making such request shall be entitled to a hearing before the designated employee, who shall hear all facts and testimony the designated employee deems pertinent.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

A.

Any interested party may appeal the decision of the designated employee by filing a written notice of appeal with the designated employee within five days of his or her decision. Appellant shall pay an appeal fee of seventy-five dollars when filing an appeal with the AVA. No such appeal fee shall be required unless the appeal is from such hearing.

B.

Such appeal shall be heard by the authority, which may affirm, amend or reverse the order or take such other action as it deems appropriate.

C.

The authority shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the appellant and those persons specified as entitled to notice under section 10.34.080

D.

In conducting the hearing, the authority shall not be limited by the technical rules of evidence.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996; Ord. 357 §2, 2015)

A.

If no request for a hearing is received by the designated employee within ten days after the notice is mailed, or both the property owner and the owner of the vehicle have signed releases authorizing removal and waiving further interest in the vehicle, and the designated employee finds, at the conclusion of the hearing, that the vehicle or part there of is abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative within the meaning of this chapter, and in the event of an appeal to the authority, the authority upholds such officer's findings, then such officer may order the vehicle removed from the property as a public nuisance and disposed of as hereinafter provided, and determine the administrative costs and the costs of removal to be charged against the owner of the vehicle, the owner of the property on which it is located, and/or the person who placed the vehicle on the property if that fact has been determined at the hearing.

B.

Such officer may impose such conditions and take such other action as he deems appropriate under the circumstances to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including without limitation delaying the time for removal of the vehicle or part thereof if, in his/her opinion, the circumstances justify it. If the vehicle is ordered removed, the order shall include a description of the vehicle or part thereof and the correct identification number and license number, if available.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

A hearing as provided above in this chapter shall not be required in the following circumstances:

A.

When both the property owner and the owner of the vehicle have signed releases authorizing removal and waiving further interest in the vehicle or part thereof; or

B.

When the property owner has signed a release authorizing removal and waiving further interest in the vehicle or any part thereof and the vehicle is located upon a parcel which is:

Either zoned for agricultural use, or is not improved with a residential structure containing one or more dwelling units, and

Inoperable due to the absence of a motor, transmission, or wheels and is incapable of being towed, and

Valued at less than three hundred dollars by the designated employee or his designees, the Amador County Sheriff or any of his deputies, or the Sutter Creek Police Chief or any of his officers, or any California Highway Patrol Officer, and

Determined by the designated employee or any of his designees, to be a public nuisance presenting an immediate threat to public health or safety.

Prior to final disposition pursuant to the section on disposition of vehicle or parts of this chapter, of such a low-valued vehicle for which evidence of registration is available, the designated employee shall provide notice to the registered and legal owners of intent to dispose of the vehicle or any part thereof, and if the vehicle or any part thereof is not claimed and removed within ten days after the notice is mailed, from the disposal site to which the vehicle was taken, final disposition may proceed.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

Vehicles or parts thereof removed pursuant to this chapter may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard, automobile dismantler's yard, or any suitable site authorized under applicable city ordinances to receive junk and/or dismantled vehicles. After a vehicle or part thereof has been removed, it shall not be reconstructed or made operable, unless it is a vehicle which qualifies for either horseless carriage license plates or historical vehicle license plates, pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 5004, or which any interested party has requested permission from city administrator or designated employee because of its intrinsic or collectable value.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

Within five days after the date of removal of the vehicle pursuant to this chapter, notice shall be given by the designated employee to the Department of Motor Vehicles, identifying the vehicle or part thereof any evidence of registration available, including, but not limited to, the registration card, certificates of ownership, or license plates.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

If the administrative costs and costs of removal are charged against the owner of the land pursuant to section 10.32.110 and 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 25845 of the Government Code, and shall be transmitted to the finance officer for collection subject to collection in any manner specified in said section. Such assessment shall have the same priority as other municipal taxes.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

If the administrative costs and costs of removal are not paid within thirty days after the date of the order, or the final disposition of an appeal therefrom, the designated employee shall have the right, in addition to any other manner provided by law for the collection of such costs, to recover such administrative costs and

costs of removal from the property, the registered owner and/or legal owner of any vehicle removed from property pursuant to this chapter, and/or from the third party, if any, responsible for placing such vehicle on the property from which it was removed in an action in a court of competent jurisdiction over the amount of such costs.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor 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 state law is applicable. This offense is punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six months, or by both such fine or imprisonment.

(Ord. 280 (part), 1996)