A dead car in Weirton: the three-day rule and selling it

Three days from the inspector's demand

Before the city acts on one of these cars, the inspector must make a demand on the landowner, or whoever has the right to control the land, and give notice of the nuisance at the same time. That demand requires the nuisance "be abated within three days after receipt." Three days is short. A car you meant to fix next month does not fit that window.

What abandoned means in Weirton

Section 545.02(A) bars anyone from abandoning "any motor vehicle, automobile or any part or parts thereof" on someone else's land or on a public highway, street or alley in the city. The code spells out two ways to do it:

• Depositing: leaving a car or its parts on land where you have "no right, title or interest" without the knowledge or consent of the person who does.
• Leftovers: leaving behind the parts and "residue" from dismantling a car, on another person's land or on a street or alley.

The second one catches a car stripped at the curb. Taking the good parts and leaving the shell is abandonment under this section.

Towed in Weirton

Under Section 301.04, a car parked on a city street "at a place, in a manner or for a length of time prohibited" by ordinance is, if unoccupied, "an obstruction" and "a public nuisance." Police can remove and impound it. Getting it back means paying the parking fine plus "any and all costs incurred in abating the nuisance."

Section 509.13 adds a capped storage fee, owed to the city, before the Police Department releases any seized or impounded car. For a parking ticket, Section 351.11 lets you settle it with the Police Court Clerk during posted hours within a day of the tag, and repeat offenders in a calendar year face steeper penalties at the judge's discretion.

Section 331.07 adds that a vehicle the DMV has not cleared for street use may not be driven on public ways or city-owned property, though private land is excepted.

The Wellsburg office and the state rules

The county office we checked is the Brooke County Clerk, 632 Main Street, Suite 201, Wellsburg, phone (304) 737-3661, about 10 miles south of the middle of Weirton as the crow flies. Part of Weirton lies in Hancock County instead. Either way, a West Virginia title is state business. Paperwork goes to the DMV by post, at one of its Regional Offices, or through a private license service it authorizes; Brooke and Hancock counties only collect personal property tax.

On the sale itself:

• The plates come home with you. State law ends the registration when the car is transferred.
• Tell the DMV immediately on its sold-vehicle form, DMV-1-S. The DMV will not take it with blank lines; UNKNOWN goes where the buyer's name would be if you do not have it.
• If the title says AND between two owners, both sign. OR or AND/OR means either can sign alone.
• Lost the title? Form DMV-4-TR replaces it for $15.00. See junk car with no title.

Nearby towns

As the crow flies, Wheeling is 24.0 miles from Weirton, Morgantown 62.4 and Parkersburg 94.6. For the statewide view, see West Virginia.

Getting an offer

Already holding the inspector's demand? Say what day it reached you. Next, Weirton owners can phone (877) 421-6008 or send our short form. Pickup can be from the Weirton lot where it sits, flat tires and all.