(A) Title to an abandoned vehicle, if unclaimed, shall vest in the city five days after the date the notice is mailed if the vehicle will be sold or offered at public auction under § 22-9-8(A)(1), 30 days after the date the notice is mailed if the Police Chief will retain the vehicle, or if the last-registered owner cannot be ascertained, when notice of such fact is received.
(B) After title to the abandoned vehicle vests pursuant to this chapter, the city may retain for use, sell, or auction the abandoned vehicle. If the Police Chief has determined that the vehicle should be retained for use, the Police Chief shall, at the same time that the notice, if any, is mailed, publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction an announcement that the Police Chief intends to retain the abandoned vehicle for its use and that title will vest in the city 30 days after the publication.
(C) When the city has custody of a motor vehicle for investigatory purposes and has no further need to keep it in custody, the Police Chief shall send a certified letter to each of the last-registered owners stating that the vehicle is in the custody of the city, that the vehicle is no longer needed for law enforcement purposes, and that after 30 days the city will dispose of the vehicle. This section shall not apply to motor vehicles subject to forfeiture under Neb. RS 28-431 or any amendment thereof. No storage fees shall be assessed against the registered owner of a motor vehicle held in custody for investigatory purposes under this section unless the registered owner or the person in possession of the vehicle when it is taken into custody is charged with a felony or misdemeanor related to the offense for which the city took the vehicle into custody. If a registered owner of the person in possession of the vehicle when it is taken into custody is charged with a felony or misdemeanor but is not convicted, the registered owner shall be entitled to a refund of the storage fees.
(Ord. 3627, passed - -1999)