(a) Definition. "Abandoned Junk Motor Vehicle" means any motor vehicle meeting all of the following requirements:
(1) Left on private property for forty-eight (48) hours or longer without the permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property, on a public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking, or upon or within the right-of-way of any road or highway, for forty-eight (48) hours or longer;
(2) Three (3) years old, or older;
(3) Extensively damaged, such damage including, but not limited to, missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission;
(4) Apparently inoperable; and
(5) Having a fair market value of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) or less.
(b) Disposal.
(1) The City's Chief of Police, or state highway patrol trooper upon notification to the Chief of such action, shall order any abandoned junk motor vehicle to be photographed by a law enforcement officer. The officer shall record the make of motor vehicle, the serial number when available, and shall also detail the damage or missing equipment to substantiate the value of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) or less.
(2) The Chief of Police shall thereupon immediately dispose of the abandoned junk motor vehicle to a motor vehicle salvage dealer, as defined in ORC 4738.01, or a scrap metal processing facility, as defined in ORC 4737.05, which is under contract to the City or to any other facility owned by or under contract with the City for the destruction of such motor vehicles. The records and photographs relating to the abandoned junk motor vehicle shall be retained by the Division of Police for a period of at least two (2) years.
(3) The Division of Police shall execute in quadruplicate an affidavit, as prescribed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, describing the motor vehicle and the manner in which it was disposed of and that all requirements of this section have been complied with and, within thirty (30) days of disposing of the vehicle, shall sign and file the affidavit with the clerk of courts of the county in which the motor vehicle was abandoned.
(4) The clerk of courts shall retain the original of the affidavit for the Clerk's files and shall furnish one (1) copy thereof to the Registrar, one (1) copy to the motor vehicle salvage dealer or other facility handling the disposal of the vehicle, and one (1) copy to the Division of Police, who shall file such copy with the records and photographs relating to the disposal.
(5) Any moneys arising from the disposal of an abandoned junk motor vehicle shall be deposited in the City's General Fund.
(c) Abandoned Junk Vehicle on Public Property. Notwithstanding Section 454.03 of this Traffic Code, any motor vehicle meeting the requirements of divisions (a)(3), (a)(4) and (a)(5) of this section which has remained unclaimed by the owner or lienholder for a period of ten (10) days or longer following notification as provided in Section 454.03 of this Traffic Code may be disposed of as provided in this section.
(ORC 4513.63)