SB1553: Urban county executive form of government; abandoned shopping carts.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-815.1 as follows:
§ 15.2-815.1. Disposition of abandoned shopping cart; penalties.
A. Any county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government may, by ordinance, provide that it shall be unlawful for any person to place, leave, or abandon on any real property in the county, or within specified districts within the county, any shopping cart as defined in § 18.2-102.1. The ordinance shall provide that any such shopping cart that remains on real property outside of the premises defined in 18.2-102.1 after a notice of violation is given to the owner of such shopping cart shall be presumed to be abandoned and subject to being removed from the real property by the county or its agents without further notice.
B. A notice of violation sent by registered or certified mail to the last known address of the shopping cart's owner or its registered agent reflected in state or county public records shall satisfy the notice requirement of this section. In the event that any such shopping cart is so removed, the cost of removal, including the cost of disposal, shall be charged to the owner of the shopping cart. Any such charge that is not paid within 30 days of the date on which it is billed to the owner shall constitute a lien upon the shopping cart and may be collected in any manner provided by law for the collection of taxes.
C. In addition to any other remedy provided herein, the county or its designee may institute legal action to enjoin the continuing violating of this section.
SENATE BILL NO. 1553
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-815.1 as follows:
§ 15.2-815.1. Disposition of abandoned personal property; penalties.
A. Any county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government may, by ordinance, provide that it shall be unlawful for any person to place, leave, or abandon on any real property in the county, or within specified districts within the county, any dilapidated furniture, appliance, machinery, equipment, shopping cart, building material, or other item or personal property, which is either in a wholly or partially rusted, wrecked, junked, dismantled, or inoperative condition and which is not completely enclosed within a building. The ordinance shall provide that any such item which remains on the real property for a period of seven days after a notice of violation is given to the owner of such personal property shall be presumed to be abandoned and subject to being removed from the real property by the county or its agents without further notice. A notice of violation sent by registered or certified mail to the last known address of the personal property’s owner or its registered agent reflected in state or county public records shall satisfy the notice requirement of this section. In the event any such item is so removed, the cost of removal, including an administrative fee in the amount of $150.00, shall be charged to the owner of the personal property. Any such charge which is not paid within 30 days of the date on which it is billed to the owner shall constitute a lien upon the personal property and may be collected in any manner provided by law for the collection of taxes.
B. No such ordinance shall apply to any real property used for the purpose of a licensed junk dealer or an establishment engaged in the repair, rebuilding, reconditioning, or salvaging of equipment.
C. The ordinance may provide that a violation of the ordinance constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor. In addition to any other remedy provided herein, the county or its designee may institute legal action to enjoin the continuing violating of this section.