ABANDONED VEHICLE PROCEDURES

Part 31

31.000 UNIFORM TRAFFIC CODE AMENDMENT:

ABANDONED VEHICLE PROCEDURES*

Ord. No. 52

Adopted: April 25, 1983

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*Cross reference(s)--Uniform Traffic Code adoption, Pt. 30.

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An ordinance to amend the Uniform Traffic Code by amending Section 2.5a thereof and by adding Sections 2.5b through 2.5g thereto to provide procedures for abandoned vehicles and abandoned scrap vehicles, to provide for the removal, return and sale of such vehicles and to set forth the duties of the court and police officials in respect thereto.

THE CITY OF READING ORDAINS THAT:

Section 2.5a of the Uniform Traffic Code be amended to provide as follows:

31.025a Section 2.5a. Abandoned vehicle procedures.

(1) As used in this section, "abandoned vehicle" means a vehicle which has remained on public property or private property for a period of 48 hours after a policy agency or other governmental agency designated by the police agency has affixed a written notice to the vehicle.

(2) If a vehicle has remained on public or private property for a period of time so that it appears to the police agency to be abandoned, the police agency shall do all of the following:

(a) Determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen.

(b) Affix a written notice to the vehicle. The written notice shall contain the following information:

(i) The date and time the notice was affixed.

(ii) The name and address of the police agency taking the action.

(iii) The name and badge number of the police officer affixing the notice.

(iv) The date and time the vehicle may be taken into custody and stored at the owner's expense or scrapped if the vehicle is not removed.

(v) The year, make and vehicle identification number of the vehicle, if available.

(3) If the vehicle is not removed within 48 hours after the date the notice was affixed, the vehicle is deemed abandoned and the police agency may have the vehicle taken into custody.

(4) A police agency which has a vehicle taken into custody shall do all of the following:

(a) Recheck to determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen.

(b) Within 24 hours after taking the vehicle into custody, enter the vehicle as abandoned into the law enforcement information network.

(c) Within 7 days after taking the vehicle into custody, send to the registered owner and secured party, as shown by the records of the secretary of state, by first-class mail or personal service, notice that the vehicle has been deemed abandoned. The form for the notice shall be furnished by the secretary of state. Each notice form shall contain the following information:

(i) The year, make, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle if available.

(ii) The location from which the vehicle was taken into custody.

(iii) The date on which the vehicle was taken into custody.

(iv) The name and address of the police agency which had the vehicle taken into custody.

(v) The business address of the custodian of the vehicle.

(vi) The procedure to redeem the vehicle.

(vii) The procedure to contest the fact that the vehicle has been deemed abandoned or the reasonableness of the towing fees and daily storage fees.

(viii) A form petition which the owner may file in person or by mail with the specified court which requests a hearing on the police agency's action.

(ix) A warning that the failure to redeem the vehicle or to request a hearing within 20 days after the date of the notice may result in the sale of the vehicle and the termination of all rights of the owner and the secured party to the vehicle or the proceeds of the sale.

(5) The registered owner may contest the fact that the vehicle has been deemed abandoned or the reasonableness of the towing fees and daily storage fees by requesting a hearing. A request for a hearing shall be made by filing a petition with the court specified in the notice within 20 days after the date of the notice. If the owner requests a hearing, the matter shall be resolved after a hearing conducted pursuant to sections 2.5e and 2.5f. An owner who requests a hearing may obtain release of the vehicle by posting a towing and storage bond in an amount equal to the accrued towing and storage fees with the Court. The owner of the vehicle who requests a hearing may obtain release of the vehicle by paying the towing and storage fees instead of posting the towing and storage bond. If the court finds that the vehicle was not properly deemed abandoned, the police agency shall reimburse the owner of the vehicle for the accrued towing and storage fees.

(6) If the owner does not request a hearing, he or she may obtain the release of the vehicle by paying the accrued charges to the custodian of the vehicle.

(7) If the owner does not redeem the vehicle or request a hearing within 20 days after the date of the notice, the secured party may obtain the release of the vehicle by paying the accrued charges to the custodian of the vehicle and the police agency for its accrued costs.

(8) Not less than 20 days after disposition of the hearing described in subsection (5) or, if a hearing is not requested, not less than 20 days after the date of the notice, the police agency shall offer the vehicle for a sale at a public sale pursuant to section 2.5g.

(9) If the ownership of a vehicle which has been deemed abandoned under this section cannot be determined either because of the condition of the vehicle identification numbers or because a check with the records of the secretary of state does not reveal ownership, the police agency may sell the vehicle at public sale pursuant to section 2.5g, not less than 30 days after public notice of the sale has been published.

Section 2.5b be added to the Uniform Traffic Code to provide as follows:

31.025b Section 2.5b. Abandoned scrap vehicle procedures.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Registered abandoned scrap vehicle" means a vehicle which meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Is on public or private property.

(ii) Is 7 or more years old.

(iii) Is apparently inoperable or is extensively damaged, to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle so that it is operational and safe as required by section 5.71 would exceed the fair market value of that vehicle.

(iv) Is currently registered in the State of Michigan or displays current year registration plates from another state.

(v) Is not removed within 48 hours after a written notice as described in section 2.5a(2)(b) is affixed to the vehicle.

(b) "Unregistered abandoned scrap vehicle" means a vehicle which meets all of the following requirements:

(i) Is on public or private property.

(ii) Is 7 or more years old.

(iii) Is apparently inoperable or is extensively damaged, to the extent that the cost of repairing the vehicle so that it is operational and safe as required by section 5.71, would exceed the fair market value of that vehicle.

(iv) Is not currently registered in this state and does not display current year registration plates from another state.

(v) Is not removed within 48 hours after a written notice as described in section 2.5a(2)(b) is affixed to the vehicle.

(2) A police agency may have an unregistered abandoned scrap vehicle taken into custody, in which case the police agency shall do all of the following:

(a) Determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen.

(b) Take 2 photographs of the vehicle.

(c) Make a report to substantiate the vehicle as an unregistered abandoned scrap vehicle. The report shall contain the following information:

(i) The year, make, and vehicle identification number if available.

(ii) The date of abandonment.

(iii) The location of abandonment.

(iv) A detailed listing of the damage or the missing equipment.

(v) The reporting officer's name and title.

(vi) The location where the vehicle is being held.

(d) Within 24 hours after taking the vehicle into custody, enter the vehicle into the law enforcement information network.

(3) Within 24 hours, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays, after taking the vehicle into custody, the police agency shall complete a release form and release the vehicle to the towing service or a used vehicle parts dealer or vehicle scrap metal processor, who shall then transmit that release form to the secretary of state and apply for a certificate of the title or a certificate of scrapping. Upon receipt of the release form and application, the secretary of state shall issue a certificate of title or a certificate of scrapping.

(4) The release form described in subsection (3) shall be furnished by the secretary of state and shall include a certification executed by the applicable police agency when the abandoned scrap vehicle is released. The certification shall state that the police agency has complied with all the requirements of subsection (2)(b) and (c).

(5) The secretary of state shall retain the records relating to an abandoned scrap vehicle for not less than 2 years. The 2 photographs taken pursuant to subsection (2)(b) shall be retained by the police agency for not less than 2 years. After the certificate of scrapping has been issued, a certificate of title for the vehicle shall not be issued again.

(6) A police agency may have a registered abandoned scrap vehicle taken into custody, in which case the police agency shall do all of the following:

(a) Determine if the vehicle has been stolen.

(b) Take 2 photographs of the vehicle.

(c) Make a report to substantiate the vehicle as a registered abandoned scrap vehicle. The report shall contain the following information:

(i) The year, make and vehicle identification number if available.

(ii) The date of abandonment.

(iii) The location of abandonment.

(iv) A detailed listing of the damage or the missing equipment.

(v) The reporting officer's name and title.

(vi) The location where the vehicle is being held.

(d) Within 24 hours after taking the vehicle into custody, enter the vehicle into the law enforcement information network.

(e) Within 7 days after taking the vehicle into custody, send to the registered owner and secured party, as shown by the records of the secretary of state, by first-class mail or person service, notice that the vehicle has been deemed abandoned. The form for the notice shall be furnished by the secretary of state. Each notice form shall contain the following information:

(i) The year, make, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle if available.

(ii) The location from which the vehicle was taken into custody.

(iii) The date on which the vehicle was taken into custody.

(iv) The name and address of the police agency which had the vehicle taken into custody.

(v) The business address of the custodian of the vehicle.

(vi) The procedure to redeem the vehicle.

(vii) The procedure to contest the fact that the vehicle has been deemed abandoned or the reasonableness of the towing fees and daily storage fees.

(viii) A form petition which the owner may file in person or by mail with the specified court which requests a hearing on the police agency's action.

(ix) A warning that the failure to redeem the vehicle or to request a hearing within 20 days after the date of the notice may result in the termination of all rights of the owner and the secured party to the vehicle.

(7) The registered owner of a registered abandoned scrap vehicle may contest the fact that the vehicle has been abandoned or the reasonableness of the towing fees and daily storage fees by requesting a hearing. A request for a hearing shall be made by filing a petition with the court specified in the notice within 20 days after the date of the notice. If the owner requests a hearing, the matter shall be resolved after a hearing conducted pursuant to sections 2.5e and 2.5f. An owner who requests a hearing may obtain release of the vehicle by posting a towing and storage bond with the court in an amount as determined by the court. The owner of a vehicle who requests a hearing may obtain release of the vehicle by paying the towing and storage fees instead of posting the towing and storage bond. If the court finds that the vehicle was not properly deemed abandoned, the police agency shall reimburse the owner of the vehicle for the accrued towing and storage fees.

(8) If the owner does not request a hearing, he or she may obtain the release of the vehicle by paying the accrued charges to the custodian of the vehicle.

(9) If the owner does not redeem the vehicle or request a hearing within 20 days after the date of the notice, the secured party may obtain the release of the vehicle by paying the accrued charges to the custodian of the vehicle.

(10) Not less than 30 days after the disposition of the hearing described in subsection (7), or if a hearing is not requested, not less than 20 days after the date of the notice described in subsection (6)(e), the police agency shall follow the procedures established in subsections (3) to (5).

Section 2.5c be added to the Uniform Traffic Code to provide as follows:

31.025c Section 2.5c. Vehicle removed from private property.

(1) When a vehicle is removed from private property at the direction of a person other than the registered owner of the vehicle or a police agency, the custodian of the vehicle immediately shall notify the police agency from whose jurisdiction the vehicle was towed. The custodian shall supply that information which is necessary for the police agency to enter the vehicle into the law enforcement information network.

(2) Upon receipt of the notification described in subsection (1), the police agency immediately shall do all of the following:

(a) Determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen.

(b) Enter the vehicle into the law enforcement information network.

(3) The owner of the vehicle removed as described in subsection (1) may obtain release of the vehicle by paying the accrued towing and storage fees to the custodian of the vehicle. Upon release of the vehicle, the custodian shall notify the police agency of the disposition of the vehicle.

(4) If the vehicle described in subsection (1) is not claimed by the owner within 7 days after the police agency has been notified by the custodian that it has been taken into custody, the vehicle is deemed abandoned and that the procedures prescribed in Section 2.5a(4)(c) (i) to (ix) shall apply.

Section 2.5d be added to the Uniform Traffic Code to provide as follows:

31.025d Section 2.5d. Vehicle removed by police.

(1) A police agency or a governmental agency designated by the police agency may provide for the immediate removal of a vehicle from public or private property to a place of safekeeping at the expense of the registered owner of the vehicle in any of the following circumstances:

(a) If the vehicle is in such a condition that the continued operation of the vehicle upon the highway would constitute an immediate hazard to the public.

(b) If the vehicle is parked or standing upon the highway in such a manner as to create an immediate public hazard or an obstruction of traffic.

(d) If there is reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle or any part of the vehicle is stolen.

(e) If the vehicle must be seized to preserve evidence of a crime, or when there is reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle was used in the commission of a crime.

(f) If removal is necessary in the interest of public safety because of fire, flood, storm, snow, natural or man-made disaster, or other emergency.

(g) If the vehicle is hampering the use of private property by the owner or person in charge of that property or is parked in a manner which impedes the movement of another vehicle.

(2) A police agency which authorizes the removal of a vehicle under subsection (1) shall do all of the following:

(a) Check to determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen.

(b) Within 24 hours after removing the vehicle, enter the vehicle into the law enforcement information network if the vehicle has not been redeemed. This subdivision does not apply to a vehicle that is removed from the scene of a motor vehicle traffic accident.

(c) If the vehicle has not been redeemed within 10 days after moving the vehicle, send to the registered owner and the secured party as shown by the records of the secretary of state, by first-class mail or personal service a notice that the vehicle has been removed; however, if the police agency informs the owner or operator of the vehicle of the removal and the location of the vehicle within 24 hours after the removal, and if the vehicle has not been redeemed within 30 days and upon complaint from the towing service, the police agency shall send the notice within 30 days after the removal. The notice shall be by a form furnished by the secretary of state. The notice form shall contain the following information:

(i) The year, make, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle.

(ii) The location from which the vehicle was taken into custody.

(iii) The date on which the vehicle was taken into custody.

(iv) The name and address of the police agency which had the vehicle taken into custody.

(v) The location where the vehicle is being held.

(vi) The procedure to redeem the vehicle.

(vii) The procedure to contest the fact that the vehicle was properly removed or the reasonableness of the towing and daily storage fees.

(viii) A form petition which the owner may file in person or by mail with the specified court which requests a hearing on the police agency's action.

(3) The registered owner may contest the fact that the vehicle was properly removed or the reasonableness of the towing fees and daily storage fees by requesting a hearing. A request for a hearing shall be made by filing a petition with the court specified in the notice within 20 days after the date of the notice. If the owner requests a hearing, the matter shall be resolved after a hearing conducted pursuant to sections 2.5e and 2.5f. An owner who requests a hearing may obtain release of the vehicle by posting a towing and storage bond with the court in an amount equal to the accrued towing and storage fees. The owner of a vehicle who requests a hearing may obtain release of the vehicle by paying the towing and storage fees instead of posting the towing and storage bond. If the court finds that the vehicle was not properly removed, the police agency shall reimburse the owner of the vehicle for the accrued towing and storage fees.

(4) If the owner does not request a hearing, he or she may obtain the release of the vehicle by paying the accrued charges to the custodian of the vehicle.

(5) If the owner does not redeem the vehicle or request a hearing within 20 days, the secured party may obtain the release of the vehicle by paying the accrued charges to the custodian of the vehicle prior to the date of the sale.

(6) Not less than 20 days after the disposition of the hearing described in subsection (3), or if a hearing is not requested, not less than 20 days after the date of the notice described in subsection (2)(c), the police agency shall offer the vehicle for sale at a public sale unless the vehicle is redeemed. The public sale shall be held pursuant to section 2.5g.

(7) If the ownership of the vehicle which has been removed under this section cannot be determined either because of the condition of the vehicle identification numbers or because a check with the records of the secretary of state does not reveal ownership, the police agency may sell the vehicle at public sale pursuant to section 2.5g, not less than 30 days after public notice of the sale has been published.

Section 2.5e be added to the Uniform Traffic Code to provide as follows:

31.025e Section 2.5e. Abandoned vehicle, jurisdiction of court.

(1) The following courts shall have jurisdiction to determine if a police agency has acted properly in processing a vehicle under section 2.5a, 2.5b(6) to (10), 2.5c, or 2.5d:

(a) The district court.

(2) The court specified in the notice prescribed in section 2.5a(4)(c), 2.5b(6), 2.5c(4), or 2.5d(2)(c) shall be the court which has territorial jurisdiction at the location from where the vehicle was removed or deemed abandoned. Venue in the district court shall be governed by section 8312 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as amended, being section 600.8312 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

(3) If the owner fails to pay the accrued towing and storage fees, the towing and storage bond posted with the court to secure release of the vehicle under section 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.5c or 2.5d shall be used to pay the towing and storage fees.

Section 2.5f shall be added to the Uniform Traffic Code to provide as follows:

31.025f Section 2.5f. Abandoned vehicle, duties of court.

(1) Upon receipt of a petition prescribed in section 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.5c, or 2.5d, signed by the owner of the vehicle which has been taken into custody, the court shall do both of the following:

(a) Schedule a hearing within 30 days for the purpose of determining whether the police agency acted properly.

(b) Notify the owner and the police agency of the time and place of the hearing.

(2) At the hearing specified in subsection (1) the police agency shall have the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that it has complied with the requirements of this act in processing the abandoned vehicle or vehicle removed pursuant to section 2.5d.

(3) After the hearing the court shall make a decision which shall include 1 or more of the following:

(a) A finding that the police agency complied with the procedures established for the processing of an abandoned vehicle or a vehicle removed under section 2.5d, and an order providing a period of 20 days after the decision for the owner to redeem the vehicle. If the owner does not redeem the vehicle within 20 days, the police agency shall dispose of the vehicle pursuant to section 2.5b or 2.5g.

(b) A finding that the police agency did not comply with the procedures established for the processing of an abandoned vehicle or a vehicle removed pursuant to section 2.5d. After making such a finding, the court shall issue an order directing that the vehicle immediately be released to the owner, and that the police agency is responsible for the accrued towing and storage charges.

(d) A finding that the towing and daily storage fees were not reasonable and issue an order directing an appropriate reduction.

Section 2.5g shall be added to the Uniform Traffic Code to provide as follows:

31.025g Section 2.5g. Abandoned vehicle, public sale.

(1) A public sale for a vehicle which has been deemed abandoned under section 2.5a or 2.5c or removed under section 2.5d shall be conducted in the following manner:

(a) It shall be under the control of the police agency or agent of the police agency.

(b) It shall be open to the public and consist of open auction bidding or bidding by sealed bids. If sealed bids are received, the person submitting the bid shall receive a receipt for the bid from the police agency or agent of the police agency.

(c) Except as provided by sections 2.5a(9) and 2.5d(7), it shall be held not less than 5 days after public notice of the sale has been published.

(d) The public notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper having a general circulation within the county in which the vehicle was abandoned. The public notice shall give a description of the vehicle for sale and shall state the time, date, and location of the sale.

(2) The money received from the public sale of the vehicle shall be applied in the following order of priority:

(a) Towing and storage charges.

(b) Expenses incurred by the police agency.

(d) Remainder to the owner. A reasonable attempt shall be made to mail the remainder to the registered owner. If delivery of the remainder cannot be accomplished, the remainder shall become the property of the unit of government that the police agency represents.

(3) If there are no bidders on the vehicle, the police agency may do 1 of the following:

(a) Turn the vehicle over to the towing firm to satisfy charges against the vehicle.

(b) Obtain title to the vehicle for the police agency or the unit of government the police agency represents, by doing the following:

(i) Paying the towing and storage charges.

(ii) Applying for title to the vehicle.

(4) A person who acquires ownership of a vehicle under subsection (1) or (3), which vehicle has been designated as a distressed vehicle, shall make application for a salvage certificate of title within 15 days after obtaining the vehicle.

(5) Upon disposition of the vehicle, the police agency shall cancel the entry into the law enforcement information network.

This amendatory ordinance shall take effect on May 30, 1983, after publication pursuant to charter.