Waymart to pursue junk vehicles

By Steve McConnell
Wayne Independent

WAYMART

Got a junk car or maybe a Junk yard on your property in Waymart Borough?
That will change if borough council passes an ordinance next month that cracks down on abandoned vehicles.
"We're not going to let ... properties turn into junkyards," said councilwoman Jane Varcoe in a phone interview. "It's creating a nuisance, creating a health hazard (and) ... it's unsightly. We've always had an ongoing problem with this."
The borough has an abandoned vehicle ordinance already on the books, but it lacked authority.
This law, which will be considered for approval at council's February meeting, gives the borough police authority to remove vehicles deemed junk or abandoned from a resident's property, if the owner does not take appropriate action to correct it, she said.
Vehicles that fall under the language of the law include those lacking a valid registration and inspection sticker, no license plate, or in a completely inoperable condition, such as four-flat tires.
"They can have a vehicle they are working on over a couple of months" like a water-pump replacement, she noted. "We're talking about habitual vehicles being left month after month, year after year."
It also extends police authority for abandoned vehicles left on borough roadways.
The intent of the new law is to crack down on some residents who insist on blatantly having junk vehicles on their properties without taking any legitimate course of action to repair them, she said.
Owners of these vehicles will receive a notice prior to removal. They can appeal the notice to the borough police - such as explaining their situation.
If, however, it seems the vehicle will remain abandoned, the police will have it towed.
The owner can regain possession of the vehicle, but would have to follow the letter of the law thereafter.
For a first offense violation of the new ordinance, the owner will receive a fine between $100 and $500, and pay for the removal costs.
The ordinance will be publicly advertised in January.
It was discussed at borough council's Jan. 6 public meeting.
Waymart Council meets on the first Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., at Borough Hall on South Street.

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