(a) Whenever a police officer impounds a vehicle as authorized in this chapter, and the officer knows or is able to ascertain from the registration records in the vehicle the name and address of the owner thereof, the officer shall in a timely manner give or cause to be given notice in writing to the owner of the fact such impoundment and the reasons therefor and of the place to which the vehicle has been removed.
(b) Whenever a police officer impounds a vehicle under this chapter and does not know and is not able to ascertain the name of the owner or for any other reasons is unable to give the notice to the owner provided in subsection (a) hereof, the officer shall cause a search of the records of the State Department of Transportation, Bureau of Motor Vehicles to be made within three days of the removal to ascertain the name of the owner. Notice by personal service or certified mail with return receipt requested shall be sent to the owner of the motor vehicle at his or her last known address within three days after the results of the search are received. The officer shall mail to the State Department of Transportation, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and file with the proprietor of any place where the vehicle may be stored, a copy of the notice. The notice shall include a complete description of the vehicle, the date and time of removal, the place from which removed, the reasons for removal, and the name of the place where the vehicle is stored.
(Ord. 07-07. Passed 6-28-07.)