[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of Price County 4-19-2005 by Ord. No. 1-05. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 473.
Unless specifically set forth otherwise in a
section or subsection, the definitions of terms for purposes of this
chapter shall be the same as those set forth in Ch. 340, Wis. Stats.
The word "person" as used throughout this chapter shall be deemed
to include any individual, partnership, firm, or corporation. "Vehicle"
shall include automobile, bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, moped, motor
bicycle, motor bus, motor vehicle, road machinery, road tractor, semitrailer,
truck tractor, or trailer. A snowmobile shall not be considered a
vehicle except for purposes made specifically applicable by statute.
No person shall leave unattended any vehicle
on any public highway, private or public property or in or on any
waters within the County of Price for such time and under such circumstances
as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned.
A vehicle is presumed to be abandoned if it has been left unattended
without the permission of the property owner or the Price County Sheriff,
or representative, for more than 48 hours or if other indicia of abandonment
are apparent. A vehicle shall not be considered abandoned when it
is out of ordinary public view or when designated as not abandoned
by the Price County Sheriff's Department.
A.
The Price County Sheriff's Department shall, on an
annual basis, commencing with July 1, 2005, obtain by advertising
for bids a contract for the services of a licensed towing and storage
individual or company to pick up and remove any abandoned vehicles,
as defined by this chapter, upon the request of the Price County Sheriff's
Department's authorized personnel. The cost of the towing and storage
shall not be a cost to Price County but shall be set forth in the
bid contract as a charge to the owner. The bid contract shall state
that it is for one year commencing July 1, 2005. The same procedure
shall be followed each year for subsequent years commencing July 1.
The successful bidder shall bear the responsibility to adhere to the
applicable provisions of the Wisconsin Statutes concerning the towing
and storage of such vehicles and their release to the proper owner,
or disposition of the vehicle if it is not returned to the owner.
B.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to
vehicles determined by the Price County Sheriff's Department to be
necessary for criminal investigation or prosecution of criminal actions.
Any person who violates the provisions of § 342.40, Wis. Stats., as incorporated in this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a forfeiture as provided in Chapter 290 of the County Code plus the cost of prosecution as provided by § 814.63(4), Wis. Stats., the penalty assessment allowed for by § 757.05, Wis. Stats., and the jail assessment imposed by § 302.46, Wis. Stats.
It is the duty of the Price County Sheriff's
Department to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Sheriff
and Deputy Sheriffs are authorized to enforce this chapter using accepted,
appropriate, and legal police methods. This chapter shall be enforced
in the same manner as prescribed by the provisions of §§ 345.20
through 345.53, Wis. Stats.
