A. The City Council has determined that illegal dumping and illegal street racing are nuisance activities that endanger the public health and safety. Vehicles used in these nuisance activities are themselves nuisances to be abated through seizure and forfeiture as provided in this Chapter.
B. The procedures presented in this Chapter for the seizure and forfeiture of nuisance vehicles are expressly intended as a remedy to abate these nuisances; to protect the City’s residents and the public from harm to their health, safety and welfare; to avoid the destruction and injury to lives and property; and to compensate the City for economic damages incurred as a result of the occurrence of these nuisance activities. Examples of such damages are the costs of cleaning up illegal dump sites and diverting limited police and public works resources to address these nuisance activities. Any deterrent effect is deemed incidental to the remedial purpose of this Chapter.
C. The City Council has determined that people who use vehicles to illegally dump waste matter or attempt to do so, or transport waste matter for the purpose of illegally dumping it within the City, bring decay and blight into City neighborhoods, create public health hazards and invite more illegal dumping. Such blight, decay and unhealthful conditions adversely affect the quality of life for the City’s residents, lead to a reduction in the value of property and invite other criminal activity. The City Council finds there is a need to provide for the abatement of such nuisance vehicles.
D. The City Council has determined that people who use vehicles for illegal street racing create an immediate threat to public safety. Participation in street racing requires drivers and other participants to use vehicles to blatantly violate motor vehicle laws. Such activity has been known to cause serious injuries and deaths in several cities throughout California and to imperil innocent residents and the public. Such activity contributes to an increase in crime, particularly offenses involving alcohol and controlled substances. The City Council finds there is a need to provide for the abatement of such nuisance vehicles.