(A) A board of township trustees may provide, by resolution, for the removal of any vehicle in the unincorporated territory of the township that the board determines is a junk motor vehicle, as defined in section 505.173 of the Revised Code.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(B) If a junk motor vehicle is located on public property, the board of township trustees may provide in the resolution for the immediate removal of the vehicle.

(C)(1) If a junk motor vehicle is located on private property, the board of township trustees may provide in the resolution for the removal of the vehicle not sooner than fourteen days after the board serves written notice of its intention to remove or cause the removal of the vehicle on the owner of the land and any holders of liens of record on the land.

(2) The notice provided under this division shall generally describe the vehicle to be removed and indicate all of the following:

(a) The board has determined that the vehicle is a junk motor vehicle.

(b) If the owner of the land fails to remove the vehicle within fourteen days after service of the notice, the board may remove or cause the removal of the vehicle.

(c) Any costs the board incurs in removing or causing the removal of the vehicle may be entered upon the tax duplicate and become a lien upon the land from the date of entry.

(3) The board shall serve the notice under this division by sending it by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner of the land, if the owner resides in the unincorporated territory of the township or if the owner resides outside the unincorporated territory of the township and the owner’s address is known or ascertainable through an exercise of reasonable diligence. The board also shall send notice in such manner to any holders of liens of record on the land. If a notice sent by certified mail is refused or unclaimed, or if an owner’s address is unknown and cannot reasonably be ascertained by an exercise of reasonable diligence, the board shall publish the notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the township before the removal of the vehicle, and, if the land contains any structures, the board also shall post the notice on the principal structure on the land.

A notice sent by certified mail shall be deemed to be served for purposes of this section on the date it was received as indicated by the date on a signed return receipt. A notice given by publication shall be deemed to be served for purposes of this section on the date of the newspaper publication.

(D) The board of township trustees may cause the removal or may employ the labor, materials, and equipment necessary to remove a junk motor vehicle under this section. All costs incurred in removing or causing the removal of a junk motor vehicle, when approved by the board, shall be paid out of the township general fund from moneys not otherwise appropriated, except that if the costs exceed five hundred dollars, the board may borrow moneys from a financial institution to pay the costs in whole or in part.

(E) The board of township trustees may utilize any lawful means to collect the costs incurred in removing or causing the removal of a junk motor vehicle under this section, including any fees or interest paid to borrow moneys under division (D) of this section. The board may direct the township fiscal officer to certify the costs and a description of the land to the county auditor. The county auditor shall place the costs upon the tax duplicate. The costs are a lien upon the land from and after the date of entry. The costs shall be returned to the township and placed in the township’s general fund.

(F)(1) As used in this division:

(a) “Motor vehicle salvage dealer” has the same meaning as in section 4738.01 of the Revised Code.

(b) “Scrap metal processing facility” has the same meaning as in section 4737.05 of the Revised Code.

(2) Notwithstanding section 4513.63 of the Revised Code, if a junk motor vehicle is removed and disposed of in accordance with this section, the clerk of courts of the county shall issue a salvage certificate of title for that junk motor vehicle to a motor vehicle salvage dealer licensed pursuant to Chapter 4738 of the Revised Code or a scrap metal processing facility licensed pursuant to sections 4737.05 to 4737.12 of the Revised Code if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The board of township trustees has entered into a contract with the motor vehicle salvage dealer or scrap metal processing facility for the disposal or removal of the junk motor vehicle in accordance with section 505.85 of the Revised Code.

(b) The fiscal officer for the board of township trustees executes in triplicate an affidavit prescribed by the registrar of motor vehicles describing the junk motor vehicle and the manner of removal or disposal and certifying that all requirements of this section and the notice and records search requirements of section 4505.101 of the Revised Code have been satisfied.

(c) The board of township trustees retains the original affidavit for the board’s records and furnishes the remaining two copies of the affidavit to the motor vehicle salvage dealer or scrap metal processing facility.

(d) The motor vehicle salvage dealer or scrap metal processing facility presents one copy of the affidavit to the clerk.

(3) The clerk shall issue the salvage certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, not later than thirty days after the motor vehicle salvage dealer or scrap metal processing facility presents the affidavit pursuant to division (F)(2) of this section.

(G) Notwithstanding section 4513.65 of the Revised Code, but subject to division (H)(2) of this section, any collector’s vehicle that meets the definition of a junk motor vehicle is subject to removal under this section.

(H)(1) Nothing in this section affects the authority of a board of township trustees to adopt and enforce resolutions under section 505.173 of the Revised Code to regulate the storage of junk motor vehicles on private or public property in the unincorporated territory of the township.

(2) A resolution adopted under this section is subject to the same restrictions specified in division (A) of section 505.173 of the Revised Code for resolutions adopted under that section.