Wake County's authority to remove abandoned and junked motor vehicles comes from NCGS §153A-132. The statute defines an abandoned vehicle as one left on public grounds in violation of a parking law, left more than 24 hours on county property, left more than 2 hours on private property without consent, or left more than 7 days on public grounds.
A 'junked motor vehicle' under §153A-132(b)(2) is an abandoned vehicle that is also partially dismantled or wrecked, cannot be self-propelled, is more than five years old and appears to be worth less than $100, or does not display a current license plate. §153A-132(c) lets Wake County remove such vehicles to a storage garage; but under §153A-132(c1), a vehicle may not be taken from private property without the owner's written request unless the Board of Commissioners or a duly authorized county official has declared it a health or safety hazard. Separately, §160A-303.2 (made applicable to counties by §153A-132.2) lets the county regulate junked-vehicle storage in residential areas where the vehicle is visible from a public street or adjoining property. Inside Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest and other towns, each municipality enforces its own abandoned-vehicle ordinance under §160A-303.
After removal, the registered owner must pay tow and storage charges before reclaiming the vehicle. If unclaimed after notice, the vehicle may be sold at public auction under §153A-132(d). Civil penalties for keeping a junked vehicle on residential property are set by local ordinance and the county may obtain an order for removal.
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