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Commission accepts first reading of derelict-vehicle ordinance to address junk cars in unincorporated Habersham County
Summary
The board accepted first reading of a new derelict-vehicle ordinance that defines prohibited vehicle conditions and sets a notice-and-removal process; the ordinance will return for final action next month.
The Habersham County Board of Commissioners accepted for first reading March 17 a proposed ordinance to regulate derelict vehicles in unincorporated areas.
Mike Beauchamp (county planning/code-enforcement staff) presented the ordinance, which replaces a brief provision that had been deleted from the county’s prior land-development code. The new draft defines a ‘‘derelict vehicle’’ as any unregistered, junked, dismantled, inoperative or abandoned vehicle left on private property for more than 30 days and prohibits storage of such vehicles on public right-of-way and other public property.
Under the draft ordinance, property owners found to be storing derelict vehicles would receive a citation requiring removal. If the vehicle is not removed within a stated period (the draft provides 14 days), the owner would appear in magistrate court. If the magistrate issues an order for removal and the order is not complied with, the county is authorized to remove and dispose of the vehicle and to place a lien on the property for associated costs.
Beauchamp said the ordinance is intended to address individual abandoned vehicles and not licensed salvage yards, which are governed separately. He also said the county intends not to target decorative or historic vehicles kept as ‘‘yard art’’ and that the ordinance is aimed at longstanding inoperative vehicles that affect health, safety or neighborhood character.
After the first-reading caption was read aloud, Commissioner Woodall moved and another commissioner seconded acceptance for first reading. The board voted unanimously to accept the ordinance for first reading; the matter will be scheduled for a future meeting for final adoption or additional public comment.
