A. The city manager or his/her designee or the police chief, after taking possession or causing the taking of possession of any wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer pursuant to this chapter, shall furnish notice in accordance with this section by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered owner of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer at his/her last known address within fifteen (15) days of the date on which possession of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer was taken. In the case of removal from private property, notice shall also be given to the owner and/or occupant of the property from which the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer was taken.
B. The city manager or his/her designee or the police chief shall also contact the department of public safety, state of Oklahoma, and such other agencies and departments of the government in this and other states as are reasonably necessary to ascertain the names and addresses of other persons with record interest in the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer, including lien holders. Such other persons shall be given notice in the same manner as stated in subsection A of this section.
C. Notice under this section shall substantially contain the following information, if known:
1. Year, make, model and vehicle identification number or serial number of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle(s) or inoperable trailer(s), if available;
2. The name and address of the last known registered owner of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle(s) or inoperable trailer(s), if available;
3. The registration number of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle(s) or inoperable trailer(s), if available;
4. The date(s) on which the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle(s) or inoperable trailer(s) was removed and stored;
5. The location from which the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle(s) or inoperable trailer(s) was removed; and
6. The location at which the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle(s) or inoperable trailer(s) is being stored.
The notice shall also advise the person to whom it is given that the person who is entitled to possession of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer may reclaim it upon payment to the city and/or private wrecker or towing service(s) of all charges incurred by the city and/or private wrecker or towing service(s) in the removal, towing, transporting, notification and storage of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer, except that if such reclamation is not made within thirty (30) days after date of notice, the right to reclaim the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer, as well as all right, title and interest of such person, shall be deemed to have terminated and that the person entitled to possession shall be deemed to have consented to the sale or disposition of the wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer by the city.
D. If unable to identify properly the last registered owner of any wrecked or inoperable motor vehicle or inoperable trailer, or if unable to obtain with reasonable certainty the names and addresses of the owner or other interested parties, including lien holders, it shall be sufficient notice under this section to publish the notice described in subsection C of this section once in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. Such notice by publication may contain multiple listings of wrecked or inoperable motor vehicles and inoperable trailers.
E. A copy of any notice required in this section, as well as a copy of any certificates of sale issued hereunder by the city, or its designee, shall be forwarded to the department of public safety, state of Oklahoma. (Ord. 1735 § 1, 1998)