(A) Within 72 hours after the removal of an abandoned vehicle to a storage area, as set out in § 90.03, the Police Department shall prepare and forward to the Bureau an abandoned vehicle report containing a description of the vehicle including the make, model, engine number, if any, identification number and the number of the license plate, and request the Bureau to advise the Police Department of the name and most recent mailing address of the owner and/or any lienholder.
(B) The Bureau shall:
(1) Conduct a reasonable search through the National Automobile Theft Bureau and the Indiana State Police Department to determine whether the vehicle or parts have been reported as stolen;
(2) Conduct a reasonable search of Bureau records to determine the owner of the vehicle or the parts or the lienholder of record;
(3) If a reasonable search discloses the name and address of the owner or lienholder, mail a written notice, by first class mail, to the owner with a copy to any lienholder that has entered into a contract with a company for disposal of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle or parts have been impounded at a certain location and must be removed within 15 days of the date of the mailing of the notice advising that the vehicle or parts will be disposed of after that time;
(4) The Police Department shall further advise the owner or any lienholder that all costs incurred in removing and storing the vehicle or parts are his or her legal responsibility.
(C) If the vehicle or parts are in a condition so that the vehicle identification numbers or other means of identification are not available to determine the owner or lienholder, the vehicle shall be disposed of as set out in § 93.03 above for vehicles valued under $100. If the owner or lienholder does not appear within 15 days after the mailing of the notice, the Police Department shall immediately arrange for an auction to be conducted on the motor vehicle with the appropriate auction company with which the city has contracted. The sale shall be conducted only after notice under I.C. 5-3-1, except only one newspaper publication at least one week before the public sale is required.
(D) The purchaser shall be furnished a bill of sale for each abandoned vehicle sold through the procedures set out in division (C) above. The fee for the bill of sale is $6. Should the purchaser wish to obtain a title for the vehicle acquired, he or she shall present evidence from a law enforcement agency that the vehicle is roadworthy and pay the appropriate title fee.
(E) Neither the owner, lessee or occupant of the real property from which an abandoned vehicle or parts are removed, nor the Police Department, the city and towing service or automobile scrap yard is liable for loss or damage to the vehicle or parts occurring during its removal, storage or disposition. The proceeds from any sale of an abandoned vehicle or parts shall be credited against all costs incident to the removal, storage and disposal of the vehicles incurred in the enforcement of this chapter.
(Ord. 676, passed 2-5-1990)