Laws you should be aware of

Ripley County Planning Commission President Sam Row will be providing information about new ordinances that have been adopted by the commission. The first one concerns parking and storage of vehicles.

Section 80.38: Parking & Storage of Certain Vehicles, adopted on December 20, 2004.

An automotive vehicle or trailer of any type without current license plates or in an inoperable condition so as to be deemed as dead storage or an "abandoned vehicle" shall not be permitted on a lot for a period of 30 days other than in completely enclosed buildings and shall not be parked or stored in any district unless specifically authorized.

The Abandoned Vehicle Definition contains seven (7) parts. Here are some of the parts of the definition of Abandoned Vehicle:

* A vehicle located on public property illegally.

* A vehicle left on public property without being moved for three (3) days.

* A vehicle from which the engine, transmission, or differential has been removed or that is otherwise partially dismantled or inoperable and left on public property.

* A vehicle that is at least three (3) model years old, is mechanically inoperable, and is left on private property continuously in a location visible from public property for more than twenty (20) days.

For more information you can contact the local planning commission at 812-689-6062.