[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Fox Point by Ord. No. 399 (Ch. 339 of the 1961 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person shall leave unattended any motor vehicle, trailer,
semitrailer or mobile home on any public street or highway or public
or private property for such time and under such circumstances as
to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned.
When any such vehicle has been left unattended on any street or highway
for more than 24 hours, or on any public or private property within
the Village without the permission of the owner for more than 48 hours,
the vehicle is deemed abandoned and constitutes a public nuisance.
Any vehicle in violation of this chapter shall be impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of under § 713-3, except that if the Police Chief or his duly authorized representative determines that the cost of towing and storage charges for the impoundment would exceed the value of the vehicle, the vehicle may be junked by the Village prior to expiration of the impoundment period upon determination by the Police Chief or his duly authorized representative that the vehicle is not wanted for evidence or other reason.
A.
If the Police Chief or his duly authorized representative determines
that the value of the abandoned vehicle exceeds $100, he shall notify
the owner and lienholders of record by certified mail that the vehicle
has been deemed abandoned and impounded by the Village and may be
reclaimed within 15 days upon payment of accrued towing, storage and
notice charges, and if not so reclaimed shall be sold.
(1)
In the event an abandoned vehicle determined to exceed $100 in value
is not reclaimed within the period and under the conditions as provided
above, it may be sold by sealed bids. The description of the vehicle
and the terms of sale shall be published as a Class 1 notice not less
than five days before the sale.
(2)
After deducting the expense of impoundment and sale, the balance
of the proceeds, if any, shall be paid into the Village treasury.
B.
Any abandoned vehicle which is determined by the Police Chief or
his duly authorized representative to have a value of less than $100
may be disposed of by direct sale to a licensed salvage dealer upon
determination that the vehicle is not reported stolen.
The owner of any abandoned vehicle, except a stolen vehicle,
is responsible for the abandonment and all costs of impounding and
disposing of the vehicle. Costs not recovered for the sale of the
vehicle may be recovered in a civil action by the Village against
the owner.
Within five days after the sale or disposal of a vehicle as provided in § 713-3A or B, the Police Chief or his duly authorized representative shall advise the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, of such sale or disposition on a form supplied by the Division. A copy of such form shall also be given to the purchaser of the vehicle, and a copy shall be retained on file in the Village.
Any person who shall abandon a vehicle in violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to penalty under § 1-4 of this Code.
