The Police Department shall notify, within ten days, by certified mail, return receipt requested, the last known registered owner and all lienholders of record pursuant to the Certificate of Title Act (Tex. Trans. Code, Ch. 501) that it has taken into custody an abandoned motor vehicle under the provisions of this section. The notice shall describe the year, make, model and vehicle identification number of the abandoned motor vehicle, set forth the location of the facility where the motor vehicle is being held, inform the owner and any lienholders of his, her or their right to reclaim the motor vehicle not later than the twentieth day after the date of the notice, on payment of all towing, preservation and storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody. The notice shall state that the failure of the owner or lienholders to exercise his, her or their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner and all lienholders of all right, title and interest in the vehicle and his, her or their consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction to be held by the city. If the identity of the last registered owner cannot be determined, if the registration contains no address for the owner, or if it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity and addresses of all lienholders, notice by one publication in one newspaper of general circulation in the area where the motor vehicle was abandoned shall be sufficient notice.
(Ord. 96-06, passed 12-10-1996)