Discussion and Review of Tiffin Municipal Code Revisions – Preparation for Setting the Public Hearing — Tiffin City Code - DRAFT

CHAPTER 80 ABANDONED VEHICLES 5. If the persons receiving notice do not ask for a hearing or exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle or personal property within the 10-day reclaiming period, the owner, lienholders, or claimants shall no longer have any right, title, claim, or interest in or to the vehicle or the personal property. 6. A court in any case in law or equity shall not recognize any right, title, claim, or interest of the owner, lienholders, or claimants after the expiration of the 10-day reclaiming period. 7. If it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identities and addresses of the last registered owner and all lienholders, notice by one publication in one newspaper of general circulation in the area where the vehicle was abandoned shall be sufficient to meet all requirements of notice under Subsection 2 of this section. The published notice may contain multiple listings of abandoned vehicles, but shall be published within the same time requirements and contain the same information as prescribed for mailed notice in Subsection 2 of this section. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.89(3)) 80.04 RECLAMATION OF ABANDONED VEHICLES. Prior to driving an abandoned vehicle away from the premises, a person who received (or who is reclaiming the vehicle on behalf of a person who received) notice under Section 80.03 shall present to the police authority or private entity, as applicable, the person’s valid driver’s license and proof of financial liability coverage as provided in Section 321.20B of the Code of Iowa. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.89(3)(a)) 80.05 FEES FOR IMPOUNDMENT. The owner, lienholder, or claimant shall pay all towing and storage fees as established by the storage facility, whereupon the vehicle shall be released. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.89(3)(a)) 80.06 TOWING LICENSE. Any person wishing to act as a towing firm shall first be licensed by the City. Final approval of said licensing shall be at the discretion of the Council. The license fee is $25.00 per year. 80.07 DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED VEHICLES. If an abandoned vehicle has not been reclaimed as provided herein, the police authority or private entity shall make a determination as to whether or not the motor vehicle should be sold for use upon the highways, and shall dispose of the motor vehicle in accordance with State law. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.89(4)) 80.08 DISPOSAL OF TOTALLY INOPERABLE VEHICLES. The City or any person upon whose property or in whose possession is found any abandoned motor vehicle, or any person being the owner of a motor vehicle whose title certificate is faulty, lost, or destroyed, may dispose of such motor vehicle to a demolisher for junk, without a title and without notification procedures, if such motor vehicle lacks an engine or two or more wheels or other structural part which renders the vehicle totally inoperable. The police authority shall give the applicant a certificate of authority. The applicant shall then apply to the County Treasurer for a junking certificate and shall surrender the certificate of authority in lieu of the certificate of title. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.90(2)(e)) CODE OF ORDINANCES, TIFFIN, IOWA - 645 -