(A) The owner of record of any motor vehicle that is used in connection with a violation of 720 ILCS 5/34-1 et seq. or 720 ILCS 5/30-101 through 5/30-105; or that contains a firearm or ammunition for which a firearm owner’s identification card is required under the state’s Owner’s Identification Card Act, being 430 ILCS 65/0.01 et seq., and one is not presented; or an unregistered firearm; or a firearm that is not broken down in a non- functioning state shall be subject to seizure and impoundment pursuant to this section.
(B) Whenever a police officer has probable cause to believe that a vehicle is subject to seizure and impoundment pursuant to this section, the police officer shall provide for the towing of the vehicle to a facility controlled by the city or its agents. When the vehicle is towed, the police officer shall notify the person who is found to be in control of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation, if there is such a person, of the fact of the seizure and of the vehicle owner’s right to request a preliminary hearing to be conducted under this chapter.
(C) This section shall not apply if:
(1) The vehicle used in the violation was stolen at the time and the theft was reported to the appropriate police authorities within 24 hours after the theft was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered;
(2) The vehicle is operating as a common carrier and the violation occurs without the knowledge of the person in control of the vehicle; or
(3) The alleged owner provides adequate proof that the vehicle had been sold to another person prior to the violation.
(Prior Code, § 73.05) (Ord. 05-O-1837, passed 7-3-2005) Penalty, see § 73.99