Within 72 hours after removal of an abandoned vehicle to a storage area pursuant to § 90.05, the Police Department shall:
(A) Prepare and forward to the State Bureau of Motor Vehicles, an abandoned vehicle report containing a description of the vehicle including the make, model, engine number, if any, identification number and the number of any license plates affixed thereto and request that the Bureau advise the Police Department of the name and most recent mailing address of the owner and any lienholder or furnish an abstract of title to such vehicle.
(B) Upon receipt of the information requested from the Bureau, the Police Department shall cause to be mailed by certified mail, a written notice to the owner with a copy to any lienholder that the vehicle has been impounded and must be removed within 15 days of the date of mailing the notice, and advising that the vehicle will be disposed of after that time, and further advising the owner that all costs incurred in removing and storing such vehicle are his legal responsibilities, listing all costs and anticipated costs thereof.
(C) If the owner or lienholder appears prior to disposal of the vehicle and pays all cost incurred against it at that time, then he shall be entitled to the return of the vehicle. If the owner cannot be located and neither he nor any lienholder appears, the Police Department shall sell the vehicle or parts to the highest bidder at public sale. Notice of the sale shall be given as provided under IC 5-3-1, except that only one newspaper insertion shall be required. The purchaser at public sale shall be furnished a bill of sale by the Police Department for each abandoned vehicle sold.
(D) If the vehicle or parts are in such condition that the vehicle identification numbers or other means of identification are not available to determine the owner of record with the Bureau, the vehicle may be disposed of without notice.
('80 Code, § 10.36.060) (Ord. 7-88, passed 2-8-88)