It shall be unlawful for an abandoned, discarded, or inoperable motor vehicle to be allowed to remain on a public street, alley, public property, commercial property, or on a private property for a period longer than 30 days. However, a property owner may waive the 30-day period if said vehicle was abandoned on that person’s property without consent.
(A) The owner of an abandoned vehicle is responsible for the abandonment and is liable for all of the costs incidental to the removal, storage, and disposal of the vehicle or the parts. When an officer discovers a vehicle in the possession of a person other than the owner and the person cannot establish his or her right to the possession of that vehicle, the vehicle shall be taken to and stored in a suitable place. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles of the State shall be notified within 72 hours of the location and description of the vehicle. Upon receipt of notification, the Bureau shall cause a search to be made to determine and notify the owner by first class mail to his or her last known address with a copy to any lien holder.
(B) If the owner of the vehicle cannot be determined, the Bureau shall declare the vehicle abandoned and provide for its disposal in accordance with this chapter.
(C) If the properly identified owner or lien holder appears at the site of storage before disposal of the vehicle or parts and pays all proper costs incurred against it at that time, then the vehicle or parts shall be released. A copy of the release of all vehicles or parts shall be sent to the Bureau. The release must contain the owner or lien holder’s signature, name, address, vehicle or parts description, costs, and date of release.
(D) If the vehicle is not released to the owner or lien holder, the Bureau shall declare the vehicle abandoned and provide for disposal in accordance with this chapter.
(Ord. 2001-08, passed 5-8-2001) Penalty, see § 10.99