HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 4496 Amends ORD 3175, 3853
Amended by 4675, 4792,
5129
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CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE N0. 4496
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING
CHAPTER 1, ABANDONED VEHICLES, OF TITLE VI (POLICE
REGULATIONS) , AND CHAPTER 5, IMPOUNDMENT AND REDEMPTION
OF VEHICLES, OF TITLE X (TRAFFIC) OF ORDINANCE NO. 4260
ENTITLED "CODE OF GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
. RENTON, WASHINGTON" RELATING TO ABANDONED VEHICLES.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
- SECTION I. Sections 6-1-1, 6-1-2 .C, 6-1-2 .D, 6-1-3 .C, 6-1-
3 .E and 6-1-3 .F of Chapter l, Abandoned Vehicles, of Title VI
(Police Regulations) , of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled "Code of
General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" are hereby
amended to read as follows:
6-1-1: DEFINITIONS: The following definitions shall apply
in the interpretations and enforcement of this chapter:
A. ABANDONED VEHICLE: Any vehicle left unremoved within the
limits of any street, highway or City property without permission
of the City for a period of twenty-four (24) hours or longer,
except that a vehicle shall not be considered abandoned if its
owner or operator is unable to remove it from the place where it
is located and so notifies the Chief of Police within said twenty-
four (24) hour limit and requests assistance for such removal;
further, provided, that an "abandoned vehicle" shall mean any
vehicle left on the property of another, except City property, for
any period of time without the consent of the owner or � person
having possession or control of the real property.
B. ABANDONED VEHICLE HULK or JUNK VEHICLE: The abandoned
remnant or remains of a vehicle which is inoperative and cannot be '
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ORDINANCE N0. 4496 I�,
made mechanically operative without the application of a I
substantial amount of labor to effect repair, and which is parked,
left, stored or retained on any street, highway, or property for
any period of time.
C. BUILDING OFFICIAL: The Building Official of the City of
Renton or his authorized representative.
D. CHIEF OF POLICE: The Chief of Police of the City of
Renton or his authorized representative.
E. INOPERATIVE VEHICLE: A vehicle which has not been
moved from its location during the preceding six months and is
incapable of being legally operated on a public highway for a
distance of three hundred feet.
F. LEGALLY OPERATIVE VEHICLE: For purposes of this
chapter only, a legally operative vehicle is a vehicle which
possesses valid license plates and registration, and is otherwise
in compliance with the requirements of RCW Title 46. ��
G. PARK or LEAVE: The halting of an unoccupied vehicle or I
vehicle hulk.
H. PERSON: Any person, firm, partnership, association,
corporation, company or organization of any kind.
I . PROPERTY: Any real property within the City or any City
-property within or without the corporate limits which is not a
street or highway.
J. STREET or HIGHWAY: Every way, lane, alley, road,
highway, boulevard, right of way or place in the City, including
parkways and boulevards within or without the limits of parks, open
as a matter of right to public vehicular travel .
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ORDINANCE NO. 4496
K. VEHICLE: A machine propelled by power other than human '
power designed to travel along the ground or rail by use of wheels,
treads, runners or slides and transport persons or property or pull
machinery and shall include, without limitation, automobile, truck,
trailer, motorcycle, tractor, buggy, wagon or locomotive. ,
6-1-2.C: Before the abatement or removal of such vehicle or
vehicle hulk, notice shall be given to the last registered owner of
record and real property owner of record that a public hearing may
be requested before the Building Official of the City, and if no
hearing is requested within ten ( 10) days, the vehicle or vehicle
hulk_ will be removed and abated and the cost thereof assessed in
accordance with this chapter.
6-1-2.D: If a request for hearing is received by the Building .
Official a notice giving the time, location and date of such
hearing on the question of the abatement and removal of such �
vehicle or vehicle hulk as a public nuisance shall be mailed by
certified or registered mail with a five (5} day return receipt I
requested, to the owner of the real property as shown on the last
equalized assessment roll and to the last registered owner and
legal owner of record of such vehicle or hulk, unless the vehicle
is in such condition that identification numbers are not available
to determine ownership. ,
6-1-3.C: Impoundment After Posted Notice: It shall be the '
duty of the Chief of Police to remove any abandoned vehicle or
vehicle hulk, parked or left on any street, highway or City
property as hereinabove defined after notice of infraction,
I indicatirig his or her authority to impound, has been posted on the
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ORDINANCE NO. 4496
vehicle or vehicle hulk for a period of not less than twenty four '�
(24) hours, and no claim has been made by the owner, or on his
behalf, during the twenty four (24) hour posting period. Such
vehicle or vehicle hulk shall be removed by any tow truck operator
or as the City may otherwise determine, and in case of a tow truck
� operator, such abandoned vehicle or vehicle hulk shall be stored at
the established place of business of such operator and he shall �
have a lien upon such vehicle or vehicle hulk for all services
provided in the towing and storage of the same, and shall also have �
a claim against the last registered owner of such vehicle or
vehicle hulk for services provided in the towing and storage of the ,
same not to exceed the sum of one hundred dollars ( $100 . 00) , or as �
otherwise provided in this chapter, or by state law. See also
Renton Municipal Code section 10-5-2 .
6-1-3.E: Reporting Procedure: The tow truck operator, or
if none, the Chief of Police, shall complete the required reporting
and/or notifications as provided in section 46 . 90 . 345 RCW.
6-1-3 .F: Disposition and Sale: Disposition and sale of an
abandoned vehicle or vehicle hulk shall be provided in sections
46 .55 . 120(4) RCW and 46 .55 . 130 or section 46 . 90 . 375 RCW.
SECTION II. Sections 10-5-1, 10-5-2 .B. 1, 10-5-2 .B. 2, 10-5-
2 .B. 3 and 10-5-8 of Chapter 5, Impoundment and Redemption of
Vehicles, of Title X (Traffic) , of Ordinance No. 4260 entitled
"Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton, Washington" are
hereby to read as follows :
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ORDINANCE NO. 4496
10-5-1: DEFINITIONS:
A. APPROVED TOW COMPANY: Any person, firm, partnership,
tow operator, association or corporation approved by the Renton
Police Department. Approved tow companies must comply with all
state laws, county ordinances, and any federal law including
antitrust laws .
B. IMPOUNDMENT: The removal of a vehicle to a storage
facility either by an officer or authorized agent of the Renton
Police Department or by an approved towing company for towing and
storage in response to a request from an officer or authorized
agent of the Renton Police Department.
C. VEHICLES: As used in this chapter shall have the
�definition set forth in RCW 46 . 04 and, in addition, shall include
any vehicle hulk as the same is defined in Renton Municipal Code
section 6-1-1 .
10-5-2.B.1: Such vehicle is left unattended on a public
highway.
10-5-2.B.2: Such vehicle is abandoned, as defined in Renton
Municipal Code section 6-1-1 .
10-5-2.B.3: Such vehicle is left unattended on private
property not posted in accordance with RCW 46 . 55 . 070 .
10-5-8: ABANDONED VEHICLES : Any impounded vehicle not
redeemed within fifteen ( 15) days of mailing of the notice required I
by section 10-5-4 of this chapter shall be deemed abandoned;
provided that, if the Renton Police Department has reason to
believe that the owner of such impounded vehicle is in custody of
the Renton Police Department jail, it shall be presumed that the
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ORDINANCE NO. 4496
vehicle is not abandoned until after the prisoner has had an
opportunity to be heard regarding the propriety of the impoundment
and circumstances giving rise to such impoundment; provided further
that, in the case of a vehicle impounded by order of a Renton
police officer and held pursuant to police order, the fifteen ( 15)
days shall not begin until forty eight (48) hours after the Renton
Police Department shall have notified both the owner and the towing
company in accordance with section 10-5-4 .0 that it has authorized
the release of the vehicle. Any vehicle so determined to have been
abandoned shall be deemed to be in custody of the Chief of Police.
No tow truck operator shall sell or otherwise dispose of
an abandoned vehicle regardless of its age unless he has first
complied with the provisions of RCW 46 . 52 . 120 and 46 .55. 130 .
In the case of failure to redeem an abandoned vehicle
under RCW 46 .55 . 120 an officer shall send a notice of infraction by
certified mail to the last known address of the registered owner of
the vehicle. I
SECTION III. Section 10-5-2 .A of Chapter 5, Impoundment and
Redemption of Vehicles, of Title X (Traffic} , of Ordinance No. 4260
entitled "Code of General Ordinances of the City of Renton,
�ashington" is hereby amended by adding the following subsections
which read as follows : ,
10-5-2.A.6: The vehicle is parked without authorization on �
residential property.
10-5-2.A.7 : The vehicle is parked on private, non-
residential property, properly posted under RCW 46 .55 . 070 .
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ORDINANCE NO. 4496
SECTION IV. This ordinance shall be effective upon its
passage, approval, and thirty days after publication.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 13th day of February , 1995 .
Marilyn etersen, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 1 ay of February , 1995 .
Ear Clymer, Mayo
Approve s to form:
u�`'1�'t.��'
La nce J. War , City Attorney
Date of Publication: February 17 , 1995
ORD.406 : 2/1/95 :as .
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CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 4496
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING
CHAPTER 1, ABANDONED VEHICLES, OF TITLE VI (POLICE
REGULATIONS) , AND CHAPTER 5, IMPOUNDMENT AND REDEMPTION
OF. VEHICLES, OF TITLE X (TRAFFIC) OF ORDINANCE NO. ' 4260
=-ENTITLED ' "CODE OF �GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
:`RENTON; WASHINGTON" RELATING TO ABANDONED VEHICLES.
`::';THE CIT.Y :COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN
_A� �EOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Section 1 establishes definitions including
��hat of abandoned vehicle and abandon vehicle hulk or junk
�ehicle, provides for notification of the last registered owner
�befor.e abatement or removal of vehicles, establishes a right to a
.he.�r_i�ng�_pr.i.or .to such abatement _or removal, permits impoundment of
_ar�andone-d .vehicle or vehicle hulk left on any street, highway or
_ C.ity property after notice, and establishes a procedure for
reporting the removal, disposition and sale of the abandoned
vehicle or vehicle hulk. Section II establishes certain
definitions, establishes a procedure for mailing of notice
concerning any impounded vehicle before that vehicle shall be
deemed abandoned, and adds to the criteria permitting impoundment
of certain vehicles from private property.
SECTION II. A full text of this ordinance will be mailed,
without charge, upon request to the City Clerk.
Date of publication: February 17 , 1995
ORD. 430 :2/9/95 :as .