Junk vehicles turned over to the Missoula City-County Health Department have all the fluids and other hazardous materials removed and are stored at a wrecking yard until there is enough to contract a crusher. They pick up junk vehicles in Missoula County at no cost to the owner.
SEELEY LAKE – With snow melting and spring in full swing, many people take the opportunity to do spring cleaning in their home and around their property. The Missoula City-County Health Department Junk Vehicle program and Vehicles for Charity (VFC) are two no-cost options to help get rid of unusable or unwanted vehicles.
A "junk vehicle," as defined by Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 75-10-501 as any discarded, ruined, wrecked, or dismantled motor vehicle, including component parts, which is not lawfully and validly licensed and remains inoperative or incapable of being driven. A vehicle must meet all three parts of the definition to be classified as a junk vehicle.
Montana was one of the leading states in enacting junk vehicle legislation. In 1973 the Montana Motor Vehicle Recycling and Disposal Act was enacted for the establishment, control, operation and licensing of public and private motor vehicle wrecking facilities. This law requires commercial and county motor vehicle storage and wrecking yards to obtain an annual license, keep pertinent records and shield their junk vehicles from public view. This law also enforces removal of junk vehicles at locations other than motor vehicle wrecking facilities.
According to MCA 75-10-505, anyone possessing a junk vehicle, including component parts, must shield the vehicle from public view or remove it. Public view is defined in MCA as, "any point six feet above the surface of the center of a [publicly owned or maintained highway, street, road or alley] from which a junk vehicle can be seen." Small accumulations of salvageable vehicles or component parts retained by active farming or ranching operations for repair and maintenance of vehicles are exempt.
Its primary purpose of the junk vehicle program is to control junk vehicles and prevent them from being scattered throughout the countryside, thereby helping to preserve the beauty of the state.
"Junk vehicles are very unsightly. We want to keep our environment looking nice without a bunch of junk on the horizon," said Missoula City-County Health Department Junk Vehicle & Community Decay Coordinator James Biondich. "If a vehicle is sitting out in a field, it is not only unsightly but there are fluids and things in them that can be considered hazardous. We don't want oil and other automobile fluids leaking into our ground water or a river."
Vehicles, which meet the definition of junk vehicles, can be repaired to be operable, annually licensed, shielded from public view or removed to a licensed wrecking yard or the county junk vehicle graveyard. Vehicles can also be released to Missoula County and they will be towed away for free. The vehicles are recycled as part of the state's junk vehicle program.
Once the vehicle is turned over, the vehicle becomes property of the state. All the fluids and Freon is removed from the vehicle. Once they have collected around 200 vehicles, the state puts out a contract for crushers and the vehicles are removed.
This program is paid for from the fee assessed when a vehicle is licensed.
The Missoula City-County Health Department is tasked with enforcing the junk vehicle law. When there is a complaint, Biondich does an investigation and contacts the owner of the property where the junk vehicle is located.
"It is a very legal process," said Biondich. "We try to give the person the benefit of the doubt. The worst case scenario would be to refer to the county attorney but that is the last resort."
Those who do not comply with the junk vehicle statutes can be fined up to $250 and/or 30 days in jail. Civil fine of $50 per day may also be imposed.
For more information about the Missoula City-County Junk Vehicle Program visit http://www.missoulacounty.us/government/health/health-department/home-environment/junk-vehicle-program or contact Biondich directly by calling 406- 258-3372 or email jbiondich@missoulacounty.us
VFC seeks vehicles that can be sold at an auction. VFC is a non-profit that was established in 2001 in Lakewood, Colo. This program was developed and implemented to provide for prompt and professional disposition of vehicles donated to VFC. VFC has entered into partnerships with other nonprofit organizations to assist them in their fundraising efforts. VFC expanded to Montana in 2004 and partnered with Montana Public Radio.
The only requirement to donate a vehicle to VFC is a notarized title. VFC accepts automobiles, trucks, vans, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, dirt bikes, tractors, boats and trailers.
The vehicle is picked up within two to four business days. Because there is no salvage value, boats and RV's must be delivered to the auction by the donor.
The vehicle is either sold at a weekly auction or delivered to an auto recycler or salvage company that pays a set amount for the vehicle regardless of condition.
Eighty percent of the proceeds from the sale benefit Montana Public Radio. The donor is allowed to declare the gross proceeds from the sale of the vehicle as a deduction.
"We are one nonprofit organization helping another," said Renee Castillo, Title Clerk for VFC. "One hundred percent of the proceeds go towards helping a non-profit."
VFC is available year round, 24 hours, seven days per week. For more information call 877-308-2408 or visit http://www.vehiclesforcharity.org
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