A. If an abandoned vehicle and parts thereof are removed from a property and the estimated value of the vehicle is three hundred dollars ($300.00) or less, a notice which states that the vehicle will be removed by code enforcement shall be securely attached to the vehicle not less than seventy-two (72) hours before the vehicle is removed. Immediately after removal of the vehicle, code enforcement and/or contract services shall notify the Stolen Vehicle System of the Department of Justice in Sacramento of the removal.
B. Within forty-eight (48) hours of the removal, excluding weekends and holidays, a notice shall be sent to the registered and legal owner(s) of the vehicle by registered or certified mail to the last address listed with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and to any other person known to have an interest in the vehicle. This notice shall include the following information:
1. The name, address and telephone number of code enforcement;
2. The location of the place of storage and description of the vehicle which shall include, if available, make, license plate number, vehicle identification number and mileage;
3. The authority and purpose for removing the vehicle;
4. A statement that the vehicle will be disposed of fifteen (15) days from the date of the notice;
5. A statement that the owner(s) and interested person(s), or their agent(s), have an opportunity for a post-storage hearing if the request is made in person, in writing, or by telephone within ten (10) days from the date of the notice;
6. Any requested hearings shall be conducted by the City Manager or a duly authorized designee, who shall act as the hearing officer, on the question of abatement and removal of the vehicle or parts thereof as an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, and/or the assessment of the administrative costs and the cost of removal of the vehicle or parts thereof against the property on which it is/was located.
C. Failure of either the registered or legal owner(s) or interested person(s) or their agent(s) to request or to attend a scheduled hearing shall satisfy due process post-storage hearing requirements.
D. If, after fifteen (15) days from the notification date, the vehicle remains unclaimed and the towing and storage fees have not been paid, and if no request for a post-storage hearing was made or a post-storage hearing was not attended, code enforcement may authorize disposal of the vehicle.
E. If the names and addresses of the registered and legal owner(s) of the vehicle are not available from the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles, code enforcement may authorize disposal of the vehicle at any time after the removal.
F. Disposal of the vehicle may only be to a licensed dismantler or scrap iron processor. A vehicle disposed of pursuant to this Section shall not be reconstructed or made operable, unless it is a vehicle which qualifies for either horseless carriage or historical vehicle license plates.