(FCR Photo)
LOCKNEY, TX — The City of Lockney Code Enforcement Department is providing residents with information about the city’s junk vehicle regulations and what property owners can expect if a vehicle is determined to be a junk vehicle.
Under Lockney Code § 8.04.001 and Texas Transportation Code § 683.071, a vehicle is considered junked when it meets two requirements. The vehicle must have no license plate or display an expired license plate, and it must also be wrecked, dismantled, discarded, or have been inoperable for more than 30 days on private property or 72 hours on public property.
The city notes that an expired registration by itself does not make a vehicle a junk vehicle.
Junk vehicle regulations can also apply when a vehicle is located on private property or behind a fence. A junked vehicle may still be considered a public nuisance if it can be seen from a street, sidewalk, or other public place, including when it is visible over or through a fence.
When a possible junk vehicle is identified, authorized city staff can document what they observe and begin the notification process. A sticker does not necessarily have to be placed on the vehicle before the notice process begins.
City staff may enter an unfenced area of private property to inspect a possible junk vehicle when the entry is lawful. Entry into a protected area requires permission, a valid warrant, or another legal basis.
If a possible junk vehicle becomes a nuisance case, the city must provide the required notice and allow the property owner at least 10 days to correct the issue or request a hearing.
The city emphasizes that receiving a notice does not mean the vehicle will be immediately towed.
Residents with questions regarding junk vehicles or code enforcement are encouraged to contact the City of Lockney for additional information. The regulations referenced by the city include Lockney Code Article 8.04 and Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683.
