(A) Auction or sale.
(2) The purchaser shall be given a receipt in a form prescribed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles which shall be sufficient title to dispose of the vehicle. The receipt shall also entitle the purchaser to register the vehicle and receive a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and claims of ownership. Before a vehicle is issued a new certificate of title, it must receive a motor vehicle safety check.
(B) Unsold vehicles. Abandoned or junk vehicles not sold by the city or public impound lots pursuant to division (A) above shall be disposed of in accordance with this section.
(C) Sale proceeds; public entities. From the proceeds of a sale under this chapter by the city or public impound lot of an abandoned or unauthorized motor vehicle, the city shall reimburse itself for the cost of towing, preserving and storing the vehicle and all administrative, notice and publication costs incurred in handling the vehicle, pursuant to this chapter. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the vehicle or entitled lienholder for 90 days and then shall be deposited in the treasury of the city.
(D) Sale proceeds; non-public impound lots. The operator of a non-public impound lot may retain any proceeds derived from a sale conducted under the authority of division (A) above. The operator may retain all proceeds from sale of any personal belongings and contents in the vehicle that were not claimed by the owner or the owner’s agent before the sale; except that, any suspected contraband or other items that likely would be subject to forfeiture in a criminal trial must be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
(2002 Code, § 5.25)