(A) A police officer who finds a vehicle or parts believed to be abandoned shall attach in a prominent place a notice tag containing the following information:
(1) The date, time, officer's name, public agency, and address and telephone number to contact for information;
(2) The vehicle or parts are considered abandoned;
(3) The vehicle or parts will be removed after 72 hours;
(4) The owner will be held responsible for all costs incidental to the removal, storage and disposal, and if not paid, the owner's registration privileges will be suspended on that vehicle; and
(5) The owner may avoid costs by removal of the vehicle or parts within 72 hours.
(B) If the tagged vehicle or parts are not removed within that 72-hour period, the officer shall prepare a written abandoned vehicle report of the vehicle or parts, including information on the condition, missing parts, and other facts that might substantiate that the market value is less than $100. Photographs shall be taken to describe the condition of the vehicle or parts. If, in the opinion of the officer, the market value of the abandoned vehicle or parts is less than $100, the officer shall immediately contact the company with which the city has contracted in order for the company to dispose of the vehicle to its automobile scrap yard pursuant to the terms of that contract. A copy of the abandoned vehicle report and the photographs relating to the abandoned vehicle shall be forwarded to the Bureau. The City Police Department shall retain the original records and photographs for a least two years. If, in the opinion of the officer, the market value of the abandoned vehicle or parts is $100 or more, the officer, before placing a notice tag on the vehicle or parts, shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain the owner or person who may be in control of the vehicle or parts. After 72 hours from the attachment of the notice, the officer shall require the vehicle or parts to be towed to a storage area pursuant to the contract the city has entered with the company for the provision of the towing and storing services of the abandoned vehicles.
(C) The following descriptive characteristics shall presumptively qualify vehicles to be worth $100 or less and subject to disposition in accordance with division (B) above:
(1) Vehicles ten model years or older that have extensive deterioration to the interior or exterior of the vehicle, or are otherwise inoperable because of faulty or missing major parts; and/or
(2) Vehicles six model years or older which have been extensively destroyed by fire, explosion, vandalism or other causes, excluding traffic accidents, and are inoperable.
(Ord. 676, passed 2-5-1990)