The following definitions shall apply in this chapter:
DEPARTMENT: The department of justice of the state of Montana acting directly or through its duly authorized officers or agents.
MOTOR VEHICLE: Any vehicle propelled by its own power and designed primarily to transport persons or property upon the highways of the state and also includes trailers, semitrailers, and house trailers.
VEHICLE: Any device in, upon, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn upon a public highway. It also means "motor vehicle", as defined in this section. (Ord. 386, 9-16-1991)
A. Impoundment Of Certain Vehicles: The city police may take into custody:
1. Any vehicle found abandoned for a period of forty eight (48) hours or more on any public highway within the city, or for a period of five (5) days or more on any city street, public property, or private property.
2. Any vehicle abandoned on private property, at the request of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the private property.
3. Any vehicle otherwise coming into the possession of the city police department which is unclaimed by its true owner.
B. Impoundment By City Or Hired Personnel: The city police may use its personnel, equipment, and facilities for the removal and storage of the vehicle, or may hire other personnel, equipment, and facilities for this purpose. (Ord. 386, 9-16-1991)
A. Notify Owner Of Vehicle Location: Within seventy two (72) hours after any vehicle is removed and held, the city police shall make reasonable efforts to ascertain the name and address of the owner, lienholder, or person entitled to possession of the vehicle taken into custody. If such name and address are ascertained, the city police shall notify such owner and lienholder or person of the location of the vehicle.
B. Registered Or Certified Letter: If the vehicle is registered in the office of the department, notice shall be deemed given when a registered or certified letter addressed to the registered owner of the vehicle and lienholder, if any, at the latest address shown by the records in the office of the department, return receipt requested and postage prepaid thereon, is mailed at least thirty (30) days before the vehicle is sold as hereinafter provided. (Ord. 386, 9-17-1991)
C. Publication Of Notice In Newspaper: If the identity of the last registered owner cannot be determined, or if the registration contains no address for the owner, or if it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity and addresses of all lienholders, notice by one publication in one newspaper of general circulation in the county shall be sufficient to meet all requirements of notice. Such notice by publication may contain multiple listings of abandoned vehicles. Any such notice shall be provided in the same manner as prescribed in Montana Code Annotated section 25-13-701(1)(b). (Ord. 386, 9-16-1991; amd. 2006 Code)
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