For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED VEHICLE. Any vehicle that has been left unoccupied and/or unattended for a period of 24 hours on a state highway, United States highway, or other public thoroughfare located in the county, and specifically includes the following:
(1) Vehicles that have expired license plates or no license plates;
(2) Vehicles that are illegally parked and that present a hazard or obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a state highway, United States highway, or other public thoroughfare located within the county; and
(3) Any vehicle that has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the premises for more than 24 hours.
EMERGENCY ACTION. Measures taken by the county when a hazard has been determined to remove or extricate an abandoned vehicle in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare and to mitigate injury to persons and damage to property.
HAZARD. That which, due to the location and/or condition of an abandoned vehicle, creates or has the potential to create a risk of harm to the general public, injury to persons, or damage to property that can be mitigated by the immediate removal of the abandoned vehicle.
NOTICE TAG. A tag that is placed in a prominent and conspicuous place on the vehicle so that persons using the state highways, federal highways, and other public thoroughfares in the county, and must contain the following:
(1) The date, time, officer’s name, public agency, and address and telephone number to contact for information;
(2) That the vehicle or parts are considered abandoned;
(3) That the vehicle or parts will be removed after:
(a) Twenty-four hours, if the vehicle is located on or within the right-of-way of an interstate highway or any highway that is designated as part of the state highway system; or
(b) Seventy-two hours for any other vehicle.
(4) That the person who owns the vehicle will be held responsible for all costs incidental to the removal, storage, and disposal of the vehicle; and
(5) That the person who owns the vehicle may avoid costs by removal of the vehicle or parts within:
(a) Twenty-four hours, if the vehicle is located on or within the right-of-way of an interstate highway or any highway that is designated as part of the state highway system; or
(b) Seventy-two hours for any other vehicle.
PUBLIC AGENCY. The Sheriff for the county.
(Ord. 2017-15, passed 11-7-2017)