8.20.040 Notice to owner and lienholders.
The law enforcement agency shall notify, by certified mail, within 20 days of having taken possession of the abandoned operable motor vehicle, to the last known address of record, that the abandoned motor vehicle has been taken into custody. Notice shall be deemed given when mailed. Notice shall describe the year, make, model and serial number of the motor vehicle, set forth the location of the facility where it is being held, inform the owner and any lienholders of their right to reclaim the motor vehicle within 21 days after the effective date of the notice, upon payment of all towing, preservation and storage charges resulting from placing the motor vehicle in custody. The notice shall also state that the failure of the owner or lienholders to exercise their right to reclaim the motor vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner and all lienholders of all right, title, claim and interest in the motor vehicle and that such failure to reclaim is deemed consent to the sale of the motor vehicle at a public auction or disposal of the motor vehicle to a demolisher. If the owner and lienholders do not exercise their right, they shall have no further right, title, claim or interest in or to such motor vehicle, as provided by law.
(1) If the identity of the last registered owner of an abandoned but operable vehicle cannot be determined, or 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 city shall be made by the law enforcement agency and multiple listings may be included in said notice if they are subject to the same time limits, and the same information as prescribed for mailed notice shall be included.
(2) The owner or any lienholder may, by written request delivered to the chief law enforcement officer prior to the expiration of the 21-day reclaiming period, obtain an additional 14 days within which the motor vehicle may be reclaimed. [Ord. 422 § 2, 1992; Code 1975 § 6-3.0104.]