The Bremen Town Council reviewed an ordinance amendment that addresses abandoned or junk vehicles.
As previously reported, A vehicle is a “junk vehicle” when it is determined to be wrecked, dismantled, discarded, or unattended on jack stands, or blocks, or other means. It can also be identified when one or more flat tires exist on the vehicle for more than 14 days, if it is inoperable for more than 20 days on private property, and is primarily used for storage and remains unmoved for 14 days or more. If the vehicle is a habitat for rats, mice, snakes, or other vermin, it may also meet the criteria of being a junk vehicle.
One criteria point that Town Attorney Anthony Wagner said will have to be made with careful judgment is when cars are parked on grass, dirt or other unpaved areas not ordinarily used for parking a vehicle.
An abandoned vehicle under the ordinance amendment is defined as a vehicle that has been left on public property illegally, a vehicle that has not been moved from public property in 24 hours, a parked vehicle that could be deemed a hazard to foot traffic or vehicle traffic on a public right-of-way, a vehicle left on private property without permission, a non-working vehicle left on public property, a towed vehicle that is not claimed within 24 hours, and a parked vehicle on private property that is three years or older which has not been operable for more than 20 days.
The ordinance states that keeping, parking or storing any wrecked, junked or abandoned vehicle on private or public property in the public eye should be declared a nuisance.
If a vehicle is deemed to be a junk vehicle as a public nuisance, the owner would be issued a citation. Police will have the authority to tow a vehicle if it has been deemed abandoned.
The Bremen Town Council members approved the ordinance amendment with a unanimous vote.
