(A) If a vehicle or a part tagged by an officer under the preceding section of this chapter is not removed within the 72-hour period, the officer shall prepare a written abandoned vehicle report of the vehicle or parts, including information on the condition, missing parts and other facts that might substantiate the estimated market value of the vehicle or parts. Photographs shall be taken to describe the condition of the vehicle or parts. The officer shall retain the original records and photographs for at least two years.
(B) If, in the opinion of the officer, the market value of an abandoned vehicle or parts determined under the preceding section of this chapter is less than $750, the officer shall immediately dispose of the vehicle to a storage yard. A copy of the abandoned vehicle report and photographs relating to the abandoned vehicle shall be forwarded to the storage yard operator. The towing service or storage yard may dispose of the abandoned vehicle or parts not less than 30 days after the date on which the towing service removed the abandoned vehicle or parts.
(C) If, in the opinion of the officer, the market value of the abandoned vehicle or parts determined under the preceding section of this chapter is at least $750, the officer, before placing a notice tag on the vehicle or parts, shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain the person who owns the vehicle or parts, or who may be in control of the vehicle or parts, and notify the person with the information required in § 90.03. If the vehicle or parts tagged by the officer, as provided for in this chapter, has not been removed within the 72-hour period, the officer shall require the vehicle or parts to be towed to a storage yard or towing service business which deals in automobile storage operations.
(D) Within 72 hours after the removal of an abandoned vehicle to an automobile salvage or storage business under division (C) above, the officer or the storage/salvage operation business shall conduct a search of a national motor vehicle title data base to determine the owner and any lienholder of the vehicle, and shall give notice to such owner and lienholder as required by I.C. 9-22-1-19. If the vehicle is not claimed by the owner or lienholder and expenses of towing and storage paid within 30 days, the vehicle may be sold pursuant to I.C. 9-22-1-21.5, and the proceeds applied toward the costs of towing and storage.
(E) If a vehicle or parts are in the condition that vehicle identification numbers or other means of identification are not available to determine the person who owns or holds a lien on the vehicle, the vehicle may be disposed of by the city or the storage/salvage operator without notice.
(`90 Code, § 9.38.030) (Ord. 94-14, passed 5-3-1994; Am. Ord. 2012-11, passed 2-9-2012; Am. Ord. 2022-30, passed 8-9-2022) Penalty, see § 90.99