(a) Whenever any motor vehicle has been impounded pursuant to the traffic code, the department of police or the department of streets and sanitation shall within ten days thereafter ascertain, if possible, from the Secretary of State of Illinois the name of the owner and of any other person legally entitled to possession of such motor vehicle by reason of an existing conditional sale contract having a lien as chattel mortgagee, or any other reason, and cause to be sent to such owner and to such other person legally entitled to possession, if known, a notice of the impoundment including a full description of the vehicle. If the impounded vehicle is currently registered with the Secretary of State's office, notice shall be sent to the owner and any other person legally entitled to possession of the vehicle by certified mail. If the impounded vehicle is not currently registered with the secretary of state's office, such notice shall be sent to the most recent registered owner at the most recent registered address by first class mail. However, no such notice need be sent to the owner of record if the owner is personally served with the notice within ten days after the vehicle is seized and impounded, and the owner acknowledges receipt of the notice in writing.
(b) Whenever the department of police or the department of streets and sanitation is not able to ascertain the name of the owner of an impounded vehicle or for any reason is unable to give notice to the owner as provided in subsection (a), the department shall immediately send or cause to be sent a written report of such removal and impounding by mail to the Secretary of the State of Illinois. Such notice shall include a complete description of the vehicle, the date, time, and place from which removed, the reasons for such removal, and the address of the vehicle pound or authorized garage where the vehicle is stored.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 2-4-92, p. 12820; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-92, p. 20110; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 99026, § 5.3)