(a) Any officer or designated employee, who has reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle has been abandoned, as determined pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22523, upon a highway or upon public or private property without the express consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property, may remove the vehicle from a highway or from public or private property pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22669.
(b) Any person performing under a franchise or contract awarded by a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles may remove a vehicle from a highway or place to which it has been removed pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22654(c) or from public or private property, after determination by an officer or designated employee that the vehicle is abandoned, as determined pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22523.
(c) A state, county, or city employee, other than a peace officer or employee of a sheriff's department or a city police department, designated to remove vehicles pursuant to this section may do so only after he or she has mailed or personally delivered a written report identifying the vehicle and its location to the office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol located nearest to the vehicle.
(d) Motor vehicles which are parked, resting, or otherwise immobilized on any highway or public right-of-way and which lack an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield, or any other part or equipment necessary to operate safely on the highways of this state, are hereby declared a hazard to public health, safety, and welfare and may be removed immediately upon discovery by a peace officer or other designated employee of the state, county, or city.
(Added by Ord. No. 8125 (N.S.), effective 9-3-92; amended by Ord. No. 10646 (N.S.), effective 2-14-20)