(A) Authority to take abandoned motor vehicles into custody.
(1) A law enforcement agency may take into custody an abandoned motor vehicle, watercraft or outboard motor found on public or private property.
(2) A law enforcement agency may use agency personnel (Code Enforcement Officer), equipment and facilities or contract for the personnel, equipment and facilities to remove, preserve, store, send notice regarding and dispose of an abandoned motor vehicle, watercraft or outboard motor taken into custody by the agency.
(B) Taking abandoned motor vehicles into custody. A law enforcement agency shall send notice of abandonment to:
(1) The last known registered owner of each motor vehicle, watercraft or outboard motor taken into custody by the agency or for which a report is received;
(2) Each lien holder recorded under Chapter 501 Tex. Transportation Code, § 501.002(9) for the motor vehicle or under Tex. Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 31, for the watercraft or outboard motor;
(3) Inform the owner and lien holder of the right to claim the item not later than the twentieth day after the date of the notice on payment of:
(a) Towing, preservation and storage charges; or
(b) Garage keeper's charges and fees.
(4) State that failure of the owner or lien holder to claim the item during the period specified, is a waiver by that person of all right, title and interest in the item; and consent to the sale of the item at a public auction.
(Ord. 156B, passed 7-14-2009) Penalty, see § 99.99