Posted on November 15, 2019 at 2:30 PM by Aaron Hall
One of the biggest complaints the City receives is regarding junked vehicles and the negative effect they have on the overall look of White Settlement. At their November meeting, the White Settlement City Council voted to amend the junked vehicles ordinance. This change shifts the oversight of this issue away from the Planning and Zoning committee and puts it under the authority of the Municipal Judge. This is an issue that our Code Compliance Officers are on the lookout for, so if you are unaware of how the junked vehicles ordinance works you may want to familiarize yourself with it by reading on.
Junked vehicles that are visible from a public place or public right-of-way are considered a public nuisance. They are detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public, tend to reduce the value of private property, invite vandalism, create fire hazards, can create safety hazards for minors, and are detrimental to the economic welfare of the city.
For the purpose of this ordinance, a vehicle can be a motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft. To be considered junked, a vehicle must be wrecked, dismantled or partially dismantled, discarded, or inoperable for a set amount of time. If it is on public property, a vehicle that has remained inoperable for seventy-two consecutive hours is considered junked and if it is on private property the inoperable vehicle is considered junked after thirty consecutive days. Vehicles without the required license plates, identification numbers, or certificates are also considered to be junked.
If a junked vehicle is identified, three parties will receive notices. The last known registered owner of the junked vehicle, any lienholders of record, and the owner or occupant of the property where the junked vehicle is located. This notice provides ten days during which the junked vehicle can be removed by the owner or a public hearing can be requested to contest the removal of the junked vehicle by the City. That hearing will take place in front of the municipal judge.
If no hearing is requested or if the judge rules against the requestor, an order will be made to remove the junked vehicle. Per court order, the vehicle will be picked up and be disposed of at a scrapyard, demolisher, or similar scrap or salvage location.
If you have any questions about this ordinance please contact our Code Department either via email at rrogers@wstx.us or by calling 817-246-4971 ext. 267.
