(A) When the municipality Police Department does not know the identity of the registered owner or other legally entitled person, it will cause the motor vehicle registration records of the state to be searched by a directed communication to the Secretary of State for the purpose of obtaining the required ownership information.
(B) The Police Department will cause the stolen motor vehicle files of the State Police to be searched by a directed communication to the State Police for stolen or wanted information of the vehicle. When the State Police files are searched with negative results, the information contained in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) files will be searched by the State Police. The information determined from these record searches will be used by the Police Department in sending a notification by certified mail to the owner or legally entitled person, advising where the vehicle is held, requesting a disposition be made and setting forth public sale information.
(C) When the registered owner or other person legally entitled to the possession of a motor vehicle or other vehicle cannot be identified from the registration files of the state or from the registration files of a foreign state, if applicable, the Police Department shall notify the State Police for the purpose of identifying the vehicle’s owner or other person legally entitled to the possession of the vehicle. The information obtained by the State Police will be immediately forwarded to the law enforcement agency having custody of the vehicle for notification of owner.
(1999 Code, § 91.06)