(A) An officer who finds or is notified of 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, department and address and phone 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 person who owns the vehicle will be held responsible for all costs incidental to the removal, storage and disposal of the vehicle; and
(5) The person who owns the vehicle may avoid costs by removal of the vehicle or parts within 72 hours.
(B) If a vehicle or part tagged, as set out above, is not removed within the 72-hour period, the office 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 the estimated market value of the vehicle or parts and shall photograph the vehicle or parts.
(C) If, in the opinion of the officer, the market value of an abandoned vehicle or parts is determined to be less than $500, the officer shall immediately dispose of the vehicle to an automobile scrap yard.
(D) If in the opinion of the officer the market value of an abandoned vehicle or parts is determined to be at least $500, the officer shall, before placing a tag on the vehicle or parts, shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain the person who owns the vehicle or parts or who may be in control of the vehicle or parts. After 72 hours, the officer shall require the vehicle or parts to be towed to a storage area.
(E) (1) Within 72 hours of removal of a vehicle under division (D) above, the officer shall prepare and forward to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles an abandoned vehicle report containing a description of the vehicle, including the following information:
(a) The make;
(b) The model;
(c) The identification number; and
(d) The number of the license plate.
(2) The officer shall request the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to advise the name and most recent address of the person who owns or holds a lien on the vehicle.
(F) The officer shall follow the provisions of I.C. 9-22-1-1 et seq. in disposing of any vehicle or parts tagged or stored under division (D) above.
(G) The Police Department shall retain the original records and photographs on each vehicle found to be abandoned for at least two years.
(Ord. 11, 1997, passed 9-8-1997)