(A) Consent of owner. With the consent of the registered owner, the town or tow truck operator may dispose of any vehicle without holding it for any prescribed period of time.
(B) Sale of vehicle. An abandoned or nuisance vehicle shall be held for a period of at least 30 days, during which time the owner may claim it by exhibiting proof of ownership to the town or towing business having custody of the vehicle and by paying the costs incidental to its towing and storage. After being held for 30 days, a vehicle may be sold in accordance with the provisions of G.S. §§ 44A-4, 44A-5, and 44A-6, provided that, if the town is responsible for collecting towing or removal fees, no hearing in addition to the probable cause hearing described in § 81.09 shall be required. If no one purchases the vehicle at the sale, and if the value of the vehicle is less than the amount of the lien, the town may destroy the vehicle.
(Ord. passed 12-16-2019)