The Hampshire village board unanimously approved an ordinance amending police regulations in order to add provisions regarding abandoned and inoperable motor vehicles in the village.
“The existing ordinance was not specific enough about inoperable vehicles,” said Village Attorney Mark Schuster.
According to the recently approved ordinance, an inoperable motor vehicle is defined as “any motor vehicle for which no current license registration has been issued by the Illinois Secretary of State, pursuant to the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code.”
It is also “any motor vehicle from which the engine, wheels, tires or other parts have been removed, or …altered, damaged or otherwise so maintained or treated that the vehicle is incapable of being driven under its own motor power. Any motor vehicle which is kept within a building when not in use shall not be considered an inoperable motor vehicle.”
The ordinance states that it is unlawful for any person or business to own, allow or store an inoperable motor vehicle in a residential area or private property where it is not part of the use on that property, whether or not it is in view of the general public.
“It shall also be unlawful for any person to use any premises in the village, whether licensed for garage purposes or otherwise, to dismantle or junk any motor vehicle and to permit (the vehicle) to remain on the premises in such condition for more than 15 days.”
If a notice is issued, the resident responsible is expected to remove the vehicle no later than 15 days from the date the notice was given.
A person found in violation of the ordinance will be fined between $150 and $750.
“The original ordinance was probably written in 1985 and never changed,” said Village President Jeffrey Magnussen.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter