All vehicles which have not been redeemed by the owner by payment of removal and storage charges prior to the next public sale shall be abandoned vehicles if at least 30 days shall have elapsed since the notice of impoundment was served. Public sales of abandoned vehicles to satisfy the lien of removal and storage charges shall be held at such times as the Chief of Police shall determine at the place where such vehicles are stored or at such other place as the Chief of Police shall designate. Notice of each such sale shall be published once a week for two successive weeks in some paper of general circulation in the city and the first publication shall be at least 15 days prior to the date of sale. At such sale, the Chief of Police shall offer such vehicles for sale to the highest bidder for cash; provided that, the owner of such vehicle may not purchase the same for less than the removal and storage charges on such vehicle; and, provided further that, neither the Chief of Police nor any police officer of the city shall purchase any such vehicle at any such sale. The proceeds of sale of any vehicle shall be delivered to the City Treasurer for deposit to the General Fund and used first to pay the cost of removal and storage of the vehicle and expense of sale; any excess of funds shall be held for the owner of the vehicle without interest. No vehicle of a type required to be licensed or registered shall be removed under its own power until the purchaser shall have procured for and affixed to such vehicle current license plates and registration.
(2005 Code, § 5-911)