Any time before a motor vehicle or other vehicle is sold at public sale or disposed of as provided herein, the owner or other person legally entitled to its possession may reclaim the vehicle by presenting to the Police Department proof of ownership or proof of the right to possession of the vehicle. No vehicle shall be released to the owner or other person under this division until all towing and storage charges have been paid.
(A) (1) Whenever an abandoned, lost, stolen, or unclaimed motor vehicle or other vehicle, seven years of age or newer, remains unclaimed by the registered owner or other person legally entitled to its possession for a period of 30 days after notice has been given as provided herein, the Police Department having possession of the vehicle shall cause it to be sold at public sale to the highest bidder. Notice of the time and place of the sale shall be posted in a conspicuous place for at least ten days prior to the sale on the premises where the vehicle has been impounded. At least ten days prior to the sale, the Police Department shall cause a notice of the time and place of the sale to be sent by certified mail to the registered owner or other person known by the Police Department or towing service to be legally entitled to the possession of the vehicle. Such notice shall contain a complete description of the vehicle to be sold and what steps must be taken by any legally entitled person to reclaim the vehicle.
(2) In those instances where the certified notification specified herein has been returned by the postal authorities to the Police Department due to the addressee having moved or being unknown at the address obtained from the registration records of this state, the sending of a second certified notice will not be required.
(B) (1) When the identity of the registered owner or other person legally entitled to the possession of an abandoned, lost, or unclaimed vehicle of seven years of age or newer cannot be determined by any means provided for in this chapter, the vehicle may be sold as provided herein or disposed of in the manner authorized by the chapter without notice to the registered owner or other person legally entitled to the possession of the vehicle.
(2) When an abandoned vehicle of more than seven years of age is impounded as specified by this chapter, it will be kept in custody for a minimum of ten days for the purpose of determining ownership, the contacting of the registered owner by the U.S. Mail, public service, or in person for a determination of disposition; and, an examination of the State Police stolen motor vehicle files for theft and wanted information. At the expiration of the ten-day period, without the benefit of disposition information being received from the registered owner, the Chief of Police will authorize the disposal of the vehicle as junk only.
(3) A motor vehicle or other vehicle classified as an antique vehicle is excluded from this chapter.
(Ord. 73-17, passed 8-7-73)