A. Vehicle Seven Years Of Age Or Newer:
1. Whenever an abandoned, lost, stolen or unclaimed motor vehicle or other vehicle seven (7) years of age or newer remains unclaimed by the registered owner, lienholder or other person legally entitled to its possession for a period of thirty (30) days after notice has been given as provided herein, the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department shall cause it to be sold at public auction to a person licensed as an automotive parts recycler, rebuilder or scrap processor or the towing operator which towed the vehicle. Notice of the time and place of the sale shall be posted in a conspicuous place for at least ten (10) days prior to the sale on the premises where the vehicle has been impounded. At least ten (10) days prior to the sale, the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department shall cause a notice of the time and place of the sale to be sent by certified mail to the registered owner or other person known by the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department or towing service to be legally entitled to the possession of the vehicle. Such notice shall contain a complete description of the vehicle to be sold and what steps must be taken by any legally entitled person to reclaim the vehicle. In those instances where the certified notification specified herein has been returned by the postal authorities to the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department due to the addressee having moved, or being unknown at the address obtained from the registration records of this State, the sending of a second certified notice will not be required.
2. When the identity of the registered lienholder, owner or other person legally entitled to the possession of an abandoned, lost or unclaimed vehicle of seven (7) years of age or newer cannot be determined by any means provided in this chapter, the vehicle may be sold as provided herein or disposed of in the manner authorized by this chapter without notice to any person whose identity cannot be determined.
B. Vehicle Over Seven Years Of Age:
1. When an abandoned vehicle of more than seven (7) years of age is impounded as specified by this chapter, or when any such vehicle is towed at the request or with the consent of the owner or operator and is subsequently abandoned, it will be kept in custody or storage for a minimum of ten (10) days for the purpose of determining the identity of the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons and contacting the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons by the U.S. mail, public service or in person for a determination of disposition, and an examination of the State Police stolen vehicle files for theft and wanted information. At the expiration of the ten (10) day period, without the benefit of disposition information being received from the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons, the vehicle may be disposed of in either of the following ways:
a. The Kankakee County Sheriff's Department will authorize the disposal of the vehicle as junk or salvage.
b. The towing service may sell the vehicle in the manner provided in subsection A1 of this section; provided, that this subsection B1b shall not apply to vehicles towed by order or authorization of the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department.
2. A vehicle classified as an antique vehicle, expanded use antique vehicle, custom vehicle, or street rod may, however, be sold to a person desiring to restore it. (Ord. 05-10, 10-3-2005; amd. 2019 Code)