(A) When the police officer authorizing the impounding of a vehicle does not know the identity of the registered owner, lien holder or other legally-entitled person, he or she will 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.
(1) The Police Department will also 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 Police Chief will request the state police to search the information contained in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) files. The information determined from these record searches will be obtained by the Police Department for use in sending notice by certified mail to the registered owner, lien holder or other legally-entitled person advising where the vehicle is held, requesting a disposition be made and setting forth public sale information.
(2) Notification shall be sent no later than ten days after the date the Police Department impounds or authorizes the impounding of a vehicle; provided that if the Police Department is unable to determine the identity of the registered owner, lien holder or other person legally entitled to ownership of the impounded vehicle within a ten-day period after impoundment, then notification shall be sent no later than two days after the date the identity of the registered owner, lien holder or other person legally entitled to ownership of the impounded vehicle is determined. Exceptions to a notification by certified mail to the registered owner, lien holder or other legally-entitled persons are as set forth in division (A) above.
(B) When the registered owner, lien holder or other person legally entitled to the possession of the impounded vehicle cannot be identified from the registration files of the state or other state, if applicable, the Police Department shall so notify the state police for the purpose of further attempting to identify the vehicle owner or other person legally entitled to the possession of the vehicle. The information obtained by the state police will be immediately obtained by the Police Department for notification purposes, as set forth in division (A) above.
(Prior Code, § 93.05) (Ord. 02-10-01, passed 10-14-2002)