(a) For the purpose of locating stolen motor vehicles and/or stolen motor vehicle parts, the Chief of Police, or his authorized representative, may inspect any motor vehicle, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4501.01 and may inspect any motor vehicle part that has been marked with an identifying number of the manufacturer, situated in the City in any public garage, community garage, storage garage, service garage, repair shop, parking lot, auto sales lot, vehicle leasing or rental lot, motor vehicle salvage facility, scrap metal processing facility, auto wrecking yard, junk yard, or other similar establishment, and may inspect the title, registration, vehicle identification number, or license plates of the vehicle in order to establish the rightful ownership of possession of the vehicle or vehicle parts.
(b) For the purpose of locating a stolen vehicle, the Chief of Police, or his authorized representative, may inspect, implements of husbandry and construction equipment in places described in subsection (a) hereof.
(c) Whenever possible, inspections conducted pursuant to subsections (a) or (b) hereof shall be conducted at a time and in a manner so as to minimize any interference with, or delay of, business operations.
(d) No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct or delay the performance of a police officer from inspecting any place described in subsection (a) hereof, shall be any act which hampers or impedes a police officer from making an inspection pursuant to this section.
(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing vehicle inspections, a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(Ord. 1986-47. Passed 6-23-86.)