(A) The city police, or any police authority acting on behalf of the city to enforce this subchapter, is hereby authorized to remove any abandoned, unattended or inoperable vehicle in violation of the provisions of this subchapter. The police authority authorizing the towing shall keep and maintain a record of the vehicle towed, listing the color, year of manufacture, manufacturer’s trade name, manufacturer’s series name, body style, vehicle identification number, license plate year and number and registration sticker year and number displayed on the vehicle. The record shall also include the date and hour of tow, location towed from, location towed to, reason for towing, and the name of the police authority authorizing the tow. If the vehicle is removed from private property, the police authority authorizing the tow shall provide a written notice and serve same on the occupant of the real estate premises upon which the vehicle is located, if there is an occupant or any appearance that the premises may be occupied or in the event that the premises do not indicate occupation by a person, the policy authority shall post on the real estate premises the aforesaid notice, this notice to be served or posted at least 24 hours in advance of the removal of the vehicle. If, after notification, that vehicle has not been removed or placed within a lawful enclosure, the police authority may authorize the removal of the vehicle to the nearest garage or other place provided by the city for the storage and safekeeping of those vehicles.
(B) Whenever any police authority removes a vehicle from a street, highway, alley or other public way as authorized in this subchapter and the policy authority knows or is able to ascertain from the registration records in the vehicle the name and address of the owner thereof, the police authority shall immediately give or cause to be given notice in writing to the owner of the fact of the removal and the reasons therefor and the place to which the vehicle has been removed. In the event any such vehicle is stored in a public garage, a copy of that notice shall be sent to the proprietor of such garage.
(C) Whenever any police authority removes a vehicle from a street, highway, alley or other public way, and does not know and is not able to ascertain the name of the owner, or for any other reason is unable to give the notice to the owner as hereinbefore provided, and in the event the vehicle is not returned to the owner within a period of three days, then and in that event the police authority shall immediately send or cause to be sent a written report of the removal by mail to the agency or department of the state whose duty it is to register motor vehicles and shall file a copy of the notice with the proprietor of any public garage in which the vehicle may be stored. This notice shall include a complete description of the vehicle, the date, time and place from which removed, the reason for such removal, and the name of the garage or place where the vehicle is stored.
(D) Vehicles not claimed by the owner thereof may be disposed of after the time and in the manner as set forth in ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, § 4-208, (as amended).
(E) All costs of towing and storing a vehicle under the provisions of this subchapter will be paid by the owner or by sale of the vehicle in accordance with the applicable laws providing for that sale.
(Ord. 533, passed 4-20-87)