Lincoln Considers Measure To Clean Up Junk Cars

LINCOLN -- Lincoln City Council placed an ordinance on first reading last week that makes it unlawful, with a few exceptions, for people to keep, maintain or allow an inoperable vehicle on their property within the city limits.

Typically, the Council suspends the rules to adopt ordinances at the same meeting. This ordinance will be considered for two or three months to give citizens an opportunity to ask questions and make comments, said Mayor Rob Hulse.

A Council committee has been discussing the number of inoperable vehicles within the city limits and believes an ordinance is needed to stop the practice, members say.

"With scrap value dropping so much, vehicles aren't worth hauling off," said Alderman Doug Hutchens. "We're seeing vehicles stacked around town and it is being a nuisance."

Council member Johnny Stowers added, "It's getting to the point we have to do something about it."

Stowers said the committee looked at restrictions used by other cities. Most of Lincoln's ordinance is based on Prairie Grove's ordinance to address inoperable vehicles, Stowers said.

The ordinance defines an inoperable vehicle as a vehicle that is currently incapable of its intended use. Examples include an engine or motor that does not work, if any one or more wheels are removed from the car, two or more deflated tires, major operating components are missing or if the vehicle does not have a current registration.

The ordinance exempts the following from the restriction:

• Vehicles located at businesses such as salvage yards or junk yards, as long as the business is in the appropriate zone, or under a conditional use permit and has a valid city business license.
• Enclosed vehicles. Enclosed means a vehicle contained within a building or behind a solid, maintained fence that cannot be seen from the public right-of-way.
• Temporarily inoperable vehicles. Temporarily means a vehicle that is inoperable for less than 60 days and no more than 90 days during one calendar year. Only one temporarily inoperable vehicle is allowed at any one time.
• One un-enclosed hobby car is allowed per residence in residential zones.
• A race car on a trailer.
• Antique vehicles, as long as the vehicle has an antique license as required by law.

Hulse said the city is not considering the ordinance because of people's hobby cars but to address junk cars.

"It's the daggone junk," Hulse said. "Let's clean it up."

In addition, Hulse said, the ordinance will give city staff "more teeth" in requiring people to remove their inoperable vehicles.

Penalties for violating the ordinance are punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $100. Each day of violation will be considered a separate offense.