Media release
(STILLWATER, OK) – Stillwater Mayor and Councilors unanimously approved to amend City Ordinance 3490 regarding junk or abandoned vehicles. Amendments include adding watercraft as transportation vehicles, definitions of what is considered junk or abandoned, citations for violation, exceptions and the appeal process.
Junk vehicles will now be identified as wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, inoperable, abandoned, discarded, or does not display a current registration, or state license plate more than three months out of date.
“We want to work with owners to address this concern properly. Understandably, it takes time to move and repair vehicles and that is why an extension from the time owners receive a warning to possible citation has gone from 10 to 14 days,” added City Manager Norman McNickle. “The items cannot remain as they are and fellow citizens should not have to deal with these types of situations, we can help.”
Vehicles parked, stored or left on any private or public property within Stillwater for an excess of fourteen days and that are identified as junk or abandoned will receive notice. The “Notice to abate junk vehicle” will be placed in a visible areas on or near the junk vehicle.
Owners then have five days to repair, remove, enclose, or cover the vehicle in accordance to the ordinance or a citation will be issued. Each day the vehicle is left on the property after an initial citation has been given will be considered a separate offense.
There are exceptions of repair and removal in the ordinance. Vehicles can be in an enclosed building, being restored or repaired with reasonable progress being made, on business zoned property or concealed with an acceptable manufactured cover that is free from significant tears and holes.
These vehicles can provide dwellings for rodents and additional hazards from leaking fluids, potential fire dangers, and children playing on them.
“Many of the concerns we receive from residents about these junk vehicles are in regards to safety issues such as attracting rodents and other animals. They are also eyesores and can cast a negative light on neighborhoods,” said Mayor Will Joyce. “These vehicles often have significant grass growth underneath them, missing parts, there are often more than one vehicle on the property with this appearance and it is past time for this situation to be taken care of.”
