(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any motor vehicle on any public way within the city. A vehicle shall be deemed to have been abandoned if it (i) is in such a state of disrepair as to be incapable of being driven in its present condition or (ii) has not been moved or used for more than seven consecutive days and is apparently deserted or (iii) has been left on the public way without state registration plates or a temporary state registration placard for two or more days. Any person who violates this subsection shall be fined the amount set forth in Section 9-100-020 for each offense. Each day a vehicle remains abandoned shall constitute a separate and distinct offense for which a separate penalty may be imposed.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to leave any hazardous dilapidated motor vehicle in full view of the general public. Members of the police department and employees of the department of streets and sanitation are hereby authorized to issue a notice of parking violation and may authorize the immediate removal of any hazardous dilapidated motor vehicle where such vehicle is left in full view of the general public, whether on public or private property. Any vehicle so removed shall be towed to an authorized facility. The owner of a vehicle towed under the provisions of this subsection shall be entitled to notice, pursuant to Section 4-205 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, of the right to request a hearing regarding the validity of the tow and any towing or storage charges as provided in Section 9-92-080. Unclaimed hazardous dilapidated motor vehicles shall be disposed of as provided in Sections 4-208 and 4-209.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, as amended; provided, however, that if the hazardous dilapidated motor vehicle bears no ascertainable vehicle identification number, and no registration-registration sticker as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code, and no other identification by which the last registered owner of the vehicle can be determined for the purpose of giving notice, the vehicle may be disposed of immediately after it is impounded at a public facility. Nothing in this subsection shall apply to any motor vehicle that is kept within a building when not in use, to inoperable historic vehicles over 25 years of age, or to a motor vehicle on the premises of a place of business engaged in the wrecking or junking of motor vehicles. Any person who violates this section shall be fined the amount set forth in Section 9-100-020 for each offense. Each day a vehicle remains abandoned shall constitute a separate and distinct offense for which a separate penalty may be imposed.
(c) [Reserved.]
(d) Whenever any vehicle shall have been abandoned in violation of this section, the person in whose name the vehicle has last been registered shall be prima facie responsible for the violation and subject to the penalty therefor. The last registered owner of an abandoned vehicle shall also be liable to the city for the towing and storage charges as provided in Section 9-92-080 and the costs of postage for notices and costs of collection.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 3-15-00, p. 27706, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-01, p. 75777, § 5.6; Amend Coun. J. 9-4-02, p. 92682, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. I, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54984, § 7)