Whenever a person is found guilty of operating a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all- purpose vehicle in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule or regulation authorized or promulgated under these Codified Ordinances, the trial judge of any court of record may, in addition to or independent of any other penalty provided by law, impound, for not less than sixty days, the certificate of registration of such snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle. The court shall send the impounded certificate of registration to the Ohio Director of Motor Vehicles who shall retain the certificate until the expiration of the period of impoundment.
If a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle certificate is impounded as provided herein, the owner of such certificate shall be liable for and cause to be paid the cost of transportation, towing and storage of the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle and prove ownership of the same before it will be released to him or her.
If a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle that is impounded as provided herein is not claimed within 180 days from the date of such impoundment, the Police Department may cause the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle to be sold at public auction without further notice to the owner thereof. The proceeds of such sale shall first be applied to the cost incurred in the impoundment and sale of the machine and the balance shall be deposited into the General Fund.