[Amended 8-13-2012 by Ord. No. 12-17]
A.
Vehicles that are a menace to traffic or public health and safety. Upon the discovery, by any police officer of the Town, of any motor vehicle, whether situated within or without any highway of this state, which due to its location is a menace to traffic or public health or safety, said police officer is authorized to immediately take such motor vehicle into his custody and cause the same to be taken to and stored in a suitable place.
B.
Abandoned motor vehicles. Any person who abandons a motor vehicle, whether registered or unregistered, on streets within the limits of the Town or on any Town property or on private property owned by a party other than the owner of the motor vehicle or a person engaged in the business of towing disabled or abandoned motor vehicles, without his consent, for a period longer than 24 hours, shall be subject to a fine of $150. The last owner of record of a motor vehicle found abandoned, as shown by the files of the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall be deemed to have been the owner of such motor vehicle at the time it was abandoned and the person who abandoned the same or caused or procured its abandonment.
C.
Notification sticker.
(1)
Any police officer of the Town, upon discovery of any motor vehicle apparently abandoned or a motor vehicle without proper registration, shall affix to such motor vehicle a notification sticker in a manner so as to be readily visible. This notification sticker shall contain the following information:
(a)
The date and time the notification sticker was affixed to the motor vehicle;
(b)
A statement that, pursuant to this chapter and state statute, if the vehicle is not removed within 24 hours of the time the sticker was affixed it shall be taken into custody and stored at the owner's expense;
(c)
The location and telephone number where additional information may be obtained; and
(d)
The identity of the affixing officer.
(2)
If the motor vehicle is not removed within such twenty-four-hour period, the Stratford Police Department shall tow such motor vehicle and cause the same to be stored in a place designated by the Chief of Police.
D.
Disposition of the vehicle pursuant to state law. If the vehicle is apparently abandoned, a menace to traffic or has no registration marker plates or has invalid registration marker plates, the Stratford Police Department shall follow the procedures set forth in Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-150(d) through Section 14-150(j), inclusive, relative to the disposition of said vehicle.