When the Chief of Police authorizes the impounding of a vehicle and does not know the identity of the registered owner, lienholder or other legally entitled person, he or she shall cause the vehicle registration records of the State to be searched by the Secretary of State for the purpose of obtaining the required ownership information.
The Chief shall 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 on the vehicle. When the State Police files are searched with negative results, the information contained in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) files shall be searched by the State Police. The information determined from these record searches shall be returned to the Chief for his or her use in sending a notification by certified mail to the registered owner, lienholder and other legally entitled persons advising where the vehicle is held, requesting that a disposition be made and setting forth public sale information. Exceptions to a notification by certified mail to the registered owner, lienholder and other legally entitled persons are set forth in Section 418.09.