A. When a vehicle, or any part thereof, is on a highway and abandoned, burned, inoperable, partially dismantled, unattended, or wrecked and creating a traffic hazard because of its position in relation to the highway, or on a highway and causing the impeding of traffic by its physical appearance, the chief of police is hereby authorized to immediately remove or have removed said vehicle, or any part thereof, in accordance with all applicable laws.
B. When a vehicle, or any part thereof, is abandoned on a highway in an urban district that remains ten (10) hours or more, the chief of police is hereby authorized to immediately remove or have removed said vehicle from the highway in accordance with all applicable laws.
C. When a vehicle, or any part thereof, is abandoned or left unattended on a highway, outside of an urban district, that remains twenty four (24) hours or more, the chief of police is hereby authorized to immediately remove or have removed said vehicle from the highway in accordance with all applicable laws.
D. When a vehicle, or any part thereof, is abandoned on private or public property, other than a highway, in view of the general public, except on property of the owner or bailee of such abandoned vehicle, that remains seven (7) days or more, the chief of police is hereby authorized to remove or have removed said vehicle, in accordance with all applicable laws; provided however that no vehicle shall be removed and impounded until five (5) days after the chief of police gives written notice of his intention to impound the vehicle, if the vehicle has not been brought into compliance with the provisions of this chapter at the end of such time. Such notice shall be given in the following manner:
1. By leaving a copy of the notice with the owner of the vehicle personally; or
2. Affixing a "police tow" notice on the vehicle; or
3. By sending a copy of the notice to the last known address of the owner of the vehicle via certified or regular mail.
E. When a vehicle, or any part thereof, is abandoned, discarded, inoperable, junked, partially dismantled, or wrecked on public or private property, and in view of the general public, by any person in charge or control of said vehicle and property, that remains thirty (30) days or more, the chief of police is authorized to remove or have removed said vehicle, in accordance with all applicable laws; provided however that no vehicle shall be removed and impounded until after the chief of police issues a written notice of his intention to impound the vehicle, and a notice to appear for a hearing in the circuit court with competent jurisdiction. Such notice shall be given in the following manner:
1. By leaving a copy of the notice with the owner of the vehicle personally; or
2. By sending a copy of the notice to the last known address of the owner of the vehicle by regular and certified mail; and
3. By sending a copy of the notice to the person in charge or control of said property by regular and certified mail.
The chief of police may request an appropriate court order for the impoundment of the vehicle at said hearing if the vehicle is not brought into compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Upon obtaining an appropriate court order, the chief of police is hereby authorized to remove or have removed said vehicle, in accordance with all applicable laws. The enforcement of this subsection is stayed when a hearing and/or decision is pending.
F. Such vehicle shall be impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of in accordance with 625 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/4-203 et seq., and the provisions of this chapter.
G. The chief of police may tow or cause to be towed any vehicle inoperable, abandoned, parked, or otherwise kept in violation of the provisions of this chapter to a suitable storage area. (Ord. 868, 8-2-2005)