§ 34-87. Removal of vehicle; post-towing notice requirements.

(a)

Any vehicle which has been determined to be an abandoned vehicle or a nuisance vehicle may be removed to a storage garage or area by the town or by a towing business contracting to perform such services for the town. Whenever such vehicle is removed, the code enforcement officer shall immediately notify the last-known registered owner of the vehicle, such notice to include the following:

(1)

A description of the removed vehicle;

(2)

The location where the vehicle is stored;

(3)

The violation with which the owner is charged, if any;

(4)

The procedure the owner must follow to redeem the vehicle; and

(5)

The procedure the owner must follow to request a probable cause hearing on the removal.

(b)

This notice shall be mailed to the owner's last-known address, unless waived in writing.

(c)

If the vehicle is registered in the state, notice shall be mailed within 24 hours. If the vehicle is not registered in the state, notice shall be mailed to the owner within 72 hours from the removal of the vehicle.

(d)

Whenever an abandoned vehicle or a nuisance vehicle is removed and such vehicle has no valid registration or registration plate, the authorizing town official shall make reasonable efforts, including the checking of the vehicle identification number, to determine the last-known registered owner of the vehicle and to notify him of the information as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(Code 1985, § 91.04; Code 1999, § 34-119)