Abandoned motor vehicle.
A motor vehicle that:
(1) 
Is inoperable and over eight (8) years old and is left unattended on public property for more than forty-eight (48) hours;
(2) 
Has remained illegally on public property for a period of more than forty-eight (48) hours;
(3) 
Has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than forty-fight (48) hours; or
(4) 
Has been left unattended on the right-of-way of any designated county, state or federal highway within the city for a period of more than forty-eight (48) hours.
Antique auto.
A passenger car or truck that was manufactured in 1925 or before, or a passenger car or truck that is at least 35 years old.
Collector.
The owner of one or more antique or special interest vehicles who collects, purchases, acquires, trades, or disposes of special interest or antique vehicles or parts of them for his personal use in order to restore, preserve, and maintain an antique or special interest vehicle for historic interest.
Junked motor vehicle.
A vehicle that is self propelled and:
(1) 
Displays an expired license plate or invalid motor vehicle inspection certificate or does not display a license plate or motor vehicle inspection certificate; and
(2) 
Is:
(A) 
Wrecked, dismantled or partially dismantled, or discarded; or
(B) 
Inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than:
(i) 
Seventy-two (72) consecutive hours, if the vehicle is on public property; or
(ii) 
Thirty (30) consecutive days, if the vehicle is on private property.
Motor vehicle.
A motor vehicle subject to registration pursuant to the Texas Certificate of Title Act.
Special interest vehicle.
A motor vehicle of any age that has not been altered or modified from the original manufacturer’s specifications and, because of its historic interest, is being preserved by hobbyists.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-4; Ordinance adopting Code)
A junked vehicle that is located in a place where it is visible from a public place or public right-of-way, is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the general public, tends to reduce the value of private property, invites vandalism, creates fire hazards, constitutes an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, and is detrimental to the economic welfare of the state by producing urban blight adverse to the maintenance and continuing development of the municipalities in the state, and such vehicle is, therefore, declared to be a public nuisance.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-5)
Upon complaint, or upon its own initiative, the city may initiate appropriate action to remove and abate a public nuisance in the nature of a junked vehicle in the following manner:
(1) 
The procedures of this article shall be carried out and enforced by regularly salaried, full-time employees of the city, except that the removal of vehicles or parts thereof from property may be done by any other duly authorized person, including persons with whom the city may have a valid contract for the removal of such vehicles.
(2) 
When there exists on private property within the city a junked vehicle, the city shall prepare a notice to the owner or occupant of the private premises upon which the public nuisance exists which shall state the nature of the public nuisance and that it must be removed and abated within ten (10) days from the date of receipt of such notice; or, if such person wishes to have a public hearing to determine whether or not such condition constitutes a public nuisance, he must request such hearing before the expiration of said ten-day period. Such notice shall be mailed by certified mail, with a five-day return requested, to the last known registered owner of the junked motor vehicle, any lienholder of record, and the owner or occupant of the private premises on which the public nuisance exists. In the event the notice is returned undelivered by the United States post office, official action to abate said nuisance shall be continued to a date not less than ten (10) days from the date of such return.
(3) 
When there exists on public property within the city a junked vehicle, the same notice as provided for in subsection (2) above shall be given to the last known registered owner of the junked motor vehicle, any lienholder of record, and the owner or occupant of the premises adjacent to the public right-of-way on which the public nuisance exists.
(4) 
Upon request by the owner or occupant of the public or private premises, or the owner or occupant adjacent to the public right-of-way, a public hearing shall be held before the municipal court of the city for determination of the existence of a junked vehicle as a public nuisance and for the purpose of entering an order requiring the removal of the same if found to be so. The judge of the municipal court shall be the designated official to make such determination, and upon the finding that the vehicle is a junked vehicle and constitutes a public nuisance, he shall enter an order requiring the removal of the vehicle or a part thereof. Said order must include a description of the vehicle and the correct identification number and license number of the vehicle, if the information is available at the site.
(5) 
When the junked vehicle is declared a public nuisance by the judge of the municipal court and is ordered removed, it shall not thereafter be reconstructed or be made operable. Notice shall be given to the state department of transportation within five (5) days after the date of such removal, identifying the vehicle or part thereof.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-6)
This article shall not apply to a vehicle or part thereof that is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not visible from the street or other public or private property, a vehicle or part thereof that is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed vehicle dealer or a junkyard, or an unlicensed, operable or inoperable antique or special interest vehicle stored by a collector on his property, provided that the vehicle and the outdoor storage area are maintained in such a manner so that they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view by means of a fence, rapidly growing trees, shrubbery, or other appropriate means.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-7)
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this article to maintain such public nuisance if the nuisance is not removed and abated, and a hearing is not requested within the ten-day period provided above. It shall further be unlawful for any person to maintain a public nuisance if the nuisance is not removed and abated in compliance with the order of the judge of the municipal court following the above-mentioned public hearing. In either such event, a complaint shall be filed in the municipal court. If upon such complaint the person is found guilty by the municipal court of maintaining a public nuisance, the person may be punished by fine as set forth in the penalty clause of this article and the municipal court may order removal and abatement of the nuisance.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-8)
(a) 
A person authorized by the city to administer the procedures of this article may enter private property for the purposes specified herein to examine a vehicle or vehicle part, obtain information as to the identity of the vehicle, and remove or cause the removal of a vehicle part that constitutes a nuisance as defined herein. The judge of the municipal court of the city may issue orders necessary to enforce the procedures of this article.
(b) 
A junked vehicle or part may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard, demolisher, or any suitable site operated by the city or county for processing as scrap or salvage.
(1995 Code, sec. 8-9)