(A) Impoundment and sale.
(1) The City Police Department shall take into custody and impound any abandoned motor vehicle as defined by M.S. § 168B.011, as it may be amended from time to time.
(2) It shall give notice of the taking as provided by law and if the owner of any lien holder does not reclaim the vehicle within the period provided by law, it shall provide for the sale of the vehicle to the highest bidder at public auction or sale following 2-weeks’ published notice.
(B) Summary action in certain cases. When an abandoned motor vehicle is more than 7 model years of age, is lacking vital component parts, and does not display a license plate currently valid in Minnesota or any other state of foreign country, it shall immediately be eligible for sale under division (A) above and shall not be subject to the notification, reclamation or title provisions of M.S. §§ 168B.01 et seq., as they may be amended from time to time.
(C) Disposition of proceeds. The proceeds of the sale of an abandoned motor vehicle shall be placed in the general fund of the city. If the former owner or entitled lien holder makes application and furnishes satisfactory proof of ownership or lien interest within 90 days of the sale, he or she shall be paid the proceeds of the sale of the vehicle less the cost of towing, preserving and storing the vehicle and all administrative, notice and publication costs incurred in its handling.
(D) Abandonment a crime. Any person who abandons a vehicle on public or private property without the consent of the person in control of the property is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(E) Abandonments.
(1) No use, structure, sign building, vehicle, machine or any other piece or article or real estate or personal property may be abandoned or permitted, in any public or private place, because of disuse or neglect, to become unsightly or offensive to the public.
(2) Any non-conforming use or use authorized by this chapter, when abandoned or discontinued, shall be removed or restored to as near its original state as is practicable. Non-use for a period of 12 months shall be presumptive evidence of intention to abandon or discontinue.
(3) Any citizen may make complaint to District Court where this section of this chapter is not complied with.
(4) The penalty for this offense shall be the obligation to remove or to correct unsightly or offensive thing or condition or remove or restore the abandoned or discontinued use within a time to be fixed by the court, or, in the discretion of the court, the same may be ordered removed or corrected and the costs thereof assessed against the owner of the property or the real estate on which the same is found to exist, together with all costs of prosecution.
(1986 Code, § 209.01) Penalty, see § 10.99