Mitchell County has a new ordinance dealing with junked and abandoned vehicles recovered during recovery from natural disasters like Helene. The Army Corp of Engineers has been recovering numerous motor vehicles which were destroyed by the storm. Many of these vehicles are damaged beyond repair, with some of them being without identification as to their ownership. Chapter 153A of the North Carolina General Statutes authorizes the County to adopt an Ordinance to address how to dispose of such vehicles. In order to comply with FEMA reimbursement regulations related to disposal of such vehicles, the County had to adopt an ordinance and process to address the issue. The ordinance does not regulate junked motor vehicles on private property which the owner wishes to keep; except for those vehicles which constitute a public nuisance, this Ordinance is limited only to vehicles recovered from public property, the public right of way or waterways, or such other location as necessary to relocate such vehicles related to natural disasters. Go to mitchellcountync.gov to read the ordinance.
