Whenever any motor vehicle or other vehicle is left unattended
on any highway, street, or alley for more than 24 hours, the municipal
police may authorize a towing service to remove the vehicle until
it is claimed by the owner or any other person legally entitled to
possession of the vehicle or until it is disposed of as provided in
this article.
At any time before a motor vehicle or other vehicle is sold
at public sale or disposed of as provided in this article, the owner
or other person legally entitled to possession of such vehicle may
reclaim the vehicle upon presenting to the law enforcement agency
having custody of the vehicle proof of ownership or proof of the right
to possession of the vehicle. No vehicle shall be released to the
owner or other person under this article until all towing, storage,
processing charges, fines, and assessments have been paid.
Whenever the identity of the registered owner or any other person legally entitled to possession of an abandoned, lost, stolen, or unclaimed vehicle cannot be determined by any means provided for in this article, the vehicle may be sold or disposed of in the manner authorized by §
265-5 or
265-7 of this article, and 625 ILCS 5/4-200 et seq., without notice to the registered owner or any person legally entitled to possession of the vehicle.
The proceeds from the public sale or disposition of a motor
vehicle or other vehicle in accordance with the provisions of this
article, after deducting towing and storage charges and the expenses
of the public sale or disposition, shall be deposited in the treasury
of the Village.
No law enforcement officer or agency, towing service owner or
employee or any other person shall be held to answer, or be liable
for damages in any action brought by the registered owner, former
registered owner, or his legal representative, or by any other person
legally entitled to possession of a motor vehicle or other vehicle,
if the vehicle was handled or sold or disposed of by such law enforcement
officer or agency, towing service owner or employee or other person
in a manner authorized by this article.