(A) It shall be unlawful to abandon any automobile on the municipal streets, highways, alleys, parks or other property.
(B) An automobile shall be deemed to be abandoned if left unattended:
(1) With no number plates affixed thereto, for more than six hours on any public property;
(2) For more than 24 hours on any public property, except a portion thereof on which parking is legally permitted;
(3) For more than 48 hours, after the parking of such vehicle shall have become illegal, if left on a portion of a public property on which parking is legally permitted; or
(4) For more than seven days on private property if left initially without permission of the owner, or after permission of the owner shall be terminated.
(C) The title to any automobile so abandoned which at the time of such abandonment, has no number plates of the current year affixed and is of a wholesale value, taking into consideration the condition of such vehicle, of $100 or less, shall immediately vest in the municipality. In the event the automobile is licensed for the current year or is a wholesale value of over $100, the municipal police shall make a reasonable effort to contact the owner of the said automobile by sending a notice to the registered owner, if known; by sending an inquiry to the county it is registered in, if the owner is unknown; or by contacting the Director of Motor Vehicles, if the car is without license plates and the owner is unknown. If notified by the Director of Motor Vehicles that a lien or mortgage exists on said vehicle, notice shall also be sent to the lienholder or mortgagee. Any person claiming such vehicle shall be required to pay the cost of removal and storage of such vehicle. If the owner, lienholder or mortgagee, is known and does not claim the automobile within five days after the date when the notice was mailed, or upon receiving word from the Director of Motor Vehicles that the owner is unknown, title will immediately vest in the municipality and the automobile may be sold. Any proceeds from the sale of the automobile less any expenses incurred by the municipality in such removal, storage and sale shall be held without interest in a separate account for the benefit of the owner of such vehicle for a period of two years. If not claimed within such period of time, the proceeds shall then be paid into the General Fund.
(D) For purposes of this section,
PUBLIC PROPERTY shall mean any public right-of-way, street, highway, alley, park or other state, county or municipally-owned property; and private property shall mean any privately-owned property which is not included within the definition of public property.
(E) Any person who abandons an automobile, as hereinbefore defined, shall be deemed to be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2005 Code, § 6-231)