(A) Generally. Whenever an abandoned, stolen, or confiscated motor vehicle is taken into custody, the Chief of Police shall give notice of the taking within ten days of the taking. The notice shall set forth the date and place of the taking; the year, make, model and serial number of the vehicle; place where the vehicle is being held; shall inform the owner or any lien holders of their right to reclaim the vehicle, and that failure of the owner or lienholders to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle shall be deemed a waiver by them of all right, title and interest in the vehicle and a consent to the sale or public auction of the vehicle.
(B) Notice. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the registered owner, if any be known, and to all identifiable lienholders of record. If it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity and address of the registered owner and all lienholders, the notice as described in division (A) above shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the vehicle was abandoned.
(C) Owner’s rights. The owner or any lienholder of an abandoned, stolen or confiscated motor vehicle shall have a right to reclaim the vehicle from the city, upon payment of all costs of notification, towing, storage changes resulting from taking the vehicle into custody, within 15 days after the date of the notice required in division (A) above.
(D) Vehicle not claimed. Any motor vehicle taken into custody and not reclaimed as provided in this section shall be sold at public auction or sale as provided by this chapter.
(E) Incomplete vehicles. When an abandoned motor vehicle is more than seven model years old, is lacking vital component parts and does not display a license plate currently valid, it shall immediately be eligible for sale or public auction and shall not be subject to the notification requirements of this section.
(Ord. 64, passed 11-5-1979)