(a) (1) The Chief of Police of the municipality, upon complaint of any person adversely affected, may order into storage any motor vehicle, other than an abandoned junk motor vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.63, that has been left on private residential or private agricultural property for at least four hours without the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property. The Chief of Police, upon complaint of the owner of a repair garage or place of storage, may order into storage any motor vehicle, other than an abandoned junk motor vehicle, that has been left at the garage or place of storage for a longer period than that agreed upon. The place of storage shall be designated by the Chief of Police. When ordering a motor vehicle into storage pursuant to this subsection, the Chief of Police shall, whenever possible, arrange for the removal of the motor vehicle by a private tow truck operator or towing company. Subject to Section 452.055(f) of this Code, the owner of a motor vehicle that has been removed pursuant to this subsection may recover the vehicle only in accordance with Section 452.055(j) of this code.
(2) Subsection (a)(1) through (3) hereof do not apply to any private residential or private agricultural property that is established as a private tow-away zone in accordance with Section 452.055.
(3) As used in subsections (a)(1) and (2) hereof, “private residential property” means private property on which is located one or more structures that are used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one or more persons, if no more than three separate households are maintained in the structure or structures. “Private residential property” does not include any private property on which is located one or more structures that are used as a home, residence or sleeping place by two or more persons, if more than three separate households are maintained in the structure or structures.
(ORC 4513.60(A))
(b) (1) The Chief of Police of the municipality may order into storage any motor vehicle, including an abandoned junk motor vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.63, that has come into the possession of the Chief of Police as a result of the Chief of Police’s duties or that has been left on a public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel, or upon or within the right-of-way of any road or highway, for 48 hours or longer without notification to the Chief of Police of the reasons for leaving the motor vehicle in such place, except that when such motor vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, it may be ordered into storage immediately. The Chief of Police shall designate the place of storage of any motor vehicle so ordered removed.
(2) The Chief of Police immediately shall cause a search to be made of the records of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to ascertain the owner and any lienholder of a motor vehicle ordered into storage by the Chief of Police, and if known, shall send or cause to be sent notice to the owner or lienholder at his or her last known address by certified mail with return receipt requested, that the motor vehicle will be declared a nuisance and disposed of if not claimed within ten days of the date of mailing of the notice. The owner or lienholder of the motor vehicle may reclaim it upon payment of any expenses or charges incurred in its removal and storage, and presentation of proof of ownership, which may be evidenced by a certificate of title to the motor vehicle. If the owner or lienholder of the motor vehicle reclaims it after a search of the records of the Bureau has been conducted and after notice has been sent to the owner or lienholder as described in this subsection, and the search was conducted by the owner of the place of storage or the owner’s employee, and the notice was sent to the motor vehicle owner by the owner of the place of storage or the owner’s employee, the owner or lienholder shall pay to the place of storage a processing fee of $25, in addition to any expenses or charges incurred in the removal and storage of the vehicle.
(3) If the owner or lienholder makes no claim to the motor vehicle within ten days of the date of mailing the notice, and if the vehicle is to be disposed of at public auction as provided in Ohio R.C. 4513.62, the Chief of Police shall file with the Clerk of Courts of the county in which the place of storage is located an affidavit showing compliance with the requirements of Ohio R.C. 4513.61. Upon presentation of the affidavit, the Clerk, without charge, shall issue a salvage certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, to the Chief of Police. If the vehicle is to be disposed of to a motor vehicle salvage dealer or other facility as provided in Ohio R.C. 4513.62, the Chief of Police shall execute in triplicate an affidavit, as prescribed by the registrar of motor vehicles, describing the motor vehicle and the manner in which it was disposed, and that all requirements of R.C. 4513.61 have been complied with. The Chief of Police shall retain the original of the affidavit for his or her records, and shall furnish two copies to the motor vehicle salvage dealer or other facility. Upon presentation of a copy of the affidavit by the motor vehicle salvage dealer, the Clerk of Courts will issue to such owner a salvage certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances.
(4) Whenever a motor vehicle salvage dealer or other facility receives such an affidavit for the disposal of a motor vehicle as provided in this subsection, the dealer or facility is not required to obtain a state certificate of title to the motor vehicle in the dealer’s or facility’s own name if the vehicle is dismantled or destroyed and both copies of the affidavit are delivered to the Clerk of Courts. (ORC 4513.61)
(c) (1) No person shall willfully leave any vehicle or an "abandoned junk motor vehicle" as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.63 on private property for more than seventy-two consecutive hours without the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property or on a public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking, or upon or within the right of way of any road or highway, for forty-eight consecutive hours or longer, without notification to the Police Chief of the reasons for leaving the vehicle in such place.
(2) For purposes of this section, the fact that a vehicle has been so left without permission or notification is prima-facie evidence of abandonment. Nothing contained in this section shall invalidate the provisions of other ordinances regulating or prohibiting the abandonment of motor vehicles on streets, highways, public property or private property within the Municipality.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall also be assessed any costs incurred by the Municipality in disposing of an abandoned junk motor vehicle that is the basis of the violation, less any money accruing to the Municipality from this disposal of the vehicle. (ORC 4513.64)