A. Disposition Required: Any owner or bailee of an inoperable motor vehicle located on private property not in accordance with definition of "inoperable motor vehicle" in Section 17-3-1 of this Chapter must dispose of the vehicle within ten (10) days of having received notice from the Building and Neighborhood Services Manager, the Chief of Police, or any of their designees, commanding the disposition of the inoperable motor vehicle.
B. Notice: Notice shall be given as follows:
1. Written notice is required for all inoperable motor vehicles bearing a license plate and shall be in substantial compliance with the following requirements:
a. Notice must be sent to the last known owner of the inoperable motor vehicle, as reflected in the vehicle registration records of the Secretary of State for the State of Illinois, or the functional equivalent of such for the state whose name appears on the license which is displayed by the inoperable motor vehicle, at the address indicated by such records.
b. Notice shall be sent by certified or registered mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested.
c. Notice shall include the following information:
(1) A description of the inoperable motor vehicle;
(2) The location of the inoperable motor vehicle;
(3) The date on which the notice was mailed;
(4) An admonition that the inoperable motor vehicle will be towed at the direction of the City and at the owner's expense if not properly disposed of within ten (10) days of receipt of written notice;
(5) The location to which the inoperable motor vehicle will be towed, together with the approximate fee for towing and storage; and
(6) A date of not less than three (3) days and not more than eight (8) days subsequent to the mailing of the notice at which time a hearing shall be held to determine whether the vehicle shall be towed.
2. If the inoperable motor vehicle does not bear a license plate, or if notice by mail is unsuccessful, there shall be placed upon the windshield or, if none exist, upon any other conspicuous place on the inoperable motor vehicle a self-adhering sign not less than seven inches by nine inches (7" x 9") in size containing the following information:
a. The vehicle has been deemed to be an inoperable motor vehicle;
b. The date on which the sign was placed upon the vehicle;
c. An admonition that the inoperable motor vehicle will be towed at the direction of the City and at the owner's expense if not properly disposed of within ten (10) days;
d. The location to which the inoperable motor vehicle will be towed, together with the approximate fee for towing and storage; and
e. A date of not less than three (3) days and not more than eight (8) days after the notice is posted at which time a hearing shall be held to determine whether the vehicle shall be towed.
C. Hearing: Not less than three (3) days and not more than eight (8) days after the notice described in subsection B of this Section is mailed, or posted, the Building and Neighborhood Services Manager shall hold a hearing.
1. If the owner or bailee of the inoperable motor vehicle appears, he shall present sufficient evidence to show cause why the vehicle should not be towed.
2. If the owner or bailee of the inoperable motor vehicle fails to appear, the Building and Neighborhood Services Manager shall receive a written statement from the complaining witness as to why the complaining witness believes the vehicle to be an inoperable motor vehicle and should be towed.
3. If the Building and Neighborhood Services Manager finds the vehicle to be an inoperable motor vehicle, which should be towed, he shall make a notation of the vehicle's description, its present location, the location to which it is to be towed, and the date of towing. This notation shall be delivered to the Chief of Police. (1998 Code)