ORDINANCE 11-05-25
AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 89-7 REGULATING ABANDONED,
NUISANCE, AND JUNKED VEHICLES WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE
TOWN OF SILVER LAKE, KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, INDIANA

WHEREAS, in accordance with Indiana Code 9-22-1, the Silver Lake Town Council desires to control the amount of abandoned, nuisance, and junked vehicles, to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the community; AND

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, as follows:

SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS
a) “Abandoned Vehicle” as defined under IC 9-13-1 and IC 9-22-1, including but not limited to the following:
• A vehicle left on public property for more than seventy-two (72) hours without being moved.
• A vehicle left on private property without the property owner’s consent for more than forty-eight (48) hours.
• A vehicle that is partially dismantled, inoperable, or incapable of being moved and left in the public view.
• A vehicle at least three (3) model years old, mechanically inoperable, and left in a location visible from public property for more than twenty (20) days.
• A vehicle that does not have a currently valid Indiana License plate thereon and a current valid registration with the license plate being visible from public property.
• A vehicle located on public property in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the movement of pedestrians or vehicle traffic on a public right of way.
b) “Junked Vehicle”-Any vehicle which is wrecked, dismantled, discarded, or inoperable and which is left exposed to the weather in a location visible from public property.
c) “Owner” shall mean the last known registered owner of the vehicle as shown on the Bureau of Motor Vehicles records.
d) “Public View” shall mean visible from any public property, street, alley, easement, or private property of a complainant.

SECTION 2: PUBLIC NUISANCE STATEMENT
Any junked or abandoned vehicle, as defined herein, located within the Town of Silver Lake is declared a public nuisance and subject to removal as provided within this ordinance.

SECTION 3: NOTICE AND TAGGING
The Town Marshal or Deputy Marshal, under the Marshal’s directive, is hereby instructed to serve notice to the owner and tag abandoned, junked, or nuisance vehicles. Notice shall mark the date, time, officer’s identity, and removal date.

SECTION 4: PENALTIES
Any owner violating this ordinance shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00) per occurrence. The Silver Lake Town Marshal, under the direction of the Silver Lake Town Council, may waive fines for violations if the vehicle is removed or becomes operable within thirty (30) days of the offense. Non-compliance will result in the removal of the vehicle at the owner’s expense.

SECTION 5: VALIDITY
If any portion of this ordinance is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such findings shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect following the passage, and thirty (30) days after its publication. Passed this 10th day of December, 2025.

Medard Murfin, Council President
Nichole Taylor, Council Member
Gloria Weller, Council Member
ATTEST: Tonya Conley, Clerk-Treasurer