(A) The county may remove to a storage garage or area an abandoned or junked motor vehicle found to be in violation of this chapter. A vehicle may not be removed from private property, however, without the written request of the owner, lessee or occupant of the premises unless the Board of Commissioners or a duly authorized county official or employee has declared the vehicle to be a health or safety hazard. Appropriate county officers and employees have a right, upon presentation of proper credentials, to enter on any premises within the ordinance-making jurisdiction of the county at any reasonable hour in order to determine if any vehicles are health or safety hazards. The county may require a person requesting the removal from private property of any abandoned or junked motor vehicle to indemnify the county against any loss, expense or liability incurred because of the vehicle's removal, storage or sale.
(B) When an abandoned or junked motor vehicle is removed, the county or duly authorized official or employee of the county shall promptly give written notice of the removal to the registered owner at his or her last known address according to the latest registration certificate or certificate of title on file with the State Division of Motor Vehicles. The notice shall inform the owner of the possible sale or other disposition that may be made of the vehicle under this chapter. The owner may regain possession of the vehicle by paying to the county all reasonable costs incidental to the removal and storage. If the vehicle does not display a current license plate and the vehicle identification numbers have been removed or defaced so as to be illegible, the county need not give notice to the vehicle's registered owner.
(Ord. passed 4-18-77; Am. Ord. passed 7-1-87)