City of Watervliet, NY Article V Removal and Storage of Vehicles

§ 260-31 Abandoned vehicles.

A. No person shall cause any vehicle to be an abandoned vehicle.

B. A motor vehicle shall be deemed to be an abandoned vehicle if left unattended:

(1) With no number plates affixed thereto for more than six hours on any highway or other public place in the City.

(2) For more than 24 hours on any highway or other public place, except a portion of a highway or public place on which parking is legally permitted.

(3) For more than 48 hours after the parking of such vehicle shall have become illegal, if left on a portion of a highway or public place on which parking is legally permitted.

(4) For more than seven days on property of another if left initially without permission of the owner.

C. If an abandoned vehicle, at the time of abandonment, has no number plates affixed and is, taking into consideration the condition of the vehicle, of a wholesale value of $750 or less, title shall immediately vest in the City.

D. No person, other than one authorized by the City Police Department, shall destroy, deface or remove any part of a vehicle which is left unattended on a highway or other public place without number plates affixed or which is abandoned.

§ 260-32 Removal of unlawfully parked or abandoned vehicles.

A. If any motor vehicle is parked or abandoned on any street within the City during a snow storm, fire or other public emergency which affects that portion of the public street upon which the said vehicle is parked or abandoned, the vehicle may be removed by the Police Department.

B. If any vehicle is found unattended on any street within the City where said vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, the vehicle may be removed by the Police Department.

C. When any vehicle is parked or abandoned on any street within the City where or during hours within which stopping, standing or parking is prohibited, the vehicle may be removed by the Police Department.

D. The Police Department shall ascertain, to the extent possible, the owner of the vehicle removed pursuant to this section, as the person having charge thereof, and shall notify such person of the removal and disposition of the vehicle and of the amount required to reclaim it.

E. After removal of any vehicle in this section, the Police Department may store the vehicle in a suitable place, at the expense of the owner. The owner or person in charge of the vehicle may redeem it upon payment to the Director of Finance of the amount of all expenses actually and necessarily incurred in effectuating such removal and storage. The owner or person in charge of such vehicle shall have 14 calendar days to retrieve such vehicle. If the vehicle is not retrieved within 14 calendar days, the owner or person in charge of such vehicle shall pay storage charges not exceeding $30 per day.

[Amended 3-25-2010 by Ord. No. 1859; 11-18-2010 by Ord. No. 1870; 2-14-2013 by Ord. No. 1896]