March 1, 2007 Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release 738-2000
Avedisian proposes amendment to strengthen “junk car” law
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian, through the City Council president, has introduced an amendment to the city’s Code of Ordinances that would help to strengthen the municipal “junk car” law and further help to eliminate neighborhood blight, he said today.
The law needed to be updated, Avedisian said, because for decades, residents, under an interpretation of an “antique car” law, were able to keep rusting, inoperable vehicles 25 years and older on their property – even if they had no intention of restoring them.
The ordinance, on the March 12 City Council docket, would amend Chapter 26 of the Code to clarify what “dismantled, junked or abandoned vehicles” means. The amendments would authorize the building department to cite the owner of any vehicles that are legally or physically incapable of being operated, including those which have not been registered, lack necessary equipment to enable them to be registered, or those which are not inspected. The owner would then have seven days to remove the vehicle from the property. If he or she did not comply, fines would be assessed and the police department authorized to have the vehicle towed.
Unregistered, seasonal farm vehicles and antique vehicles purchased for purposes of restoration and which comply with the definition of an antique by state law, would be exempt. (State law defines an antique car or motorcycle as one that is 25 years or older and is either inspected, registered and able to be driven on the highways, or one that is maintained solely for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest.)
Residents may apply to the Building Inspector for a 180-day license to keep inoperable vehicles on their property, if: vehicles are in legal operating condition but are temporarily unregistered and/or un-inspected; if it is stored on private property, is in the process of being repaired and those repairs can be completed within 180 days; or if the vehicle is in legal operating condition, but is unregistered/un-inspected and is on the property of someone serving in active U.S. military duty.
Anyone denied the request for a license may appeal to the City Council in writing within 10 days. The council would be required to hear the appeal and consider the matter at its next earliest regular meeting.
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