No person shall leave unattended any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or mobile home on any public highway or private or public property for such time and under such circumstances as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned. Whenever any vehicle has been left unattended without the permission of the property owner for more than 48 hours, the vehicle is deemed abandoned and constitutes a public nuisance.
A.
Any vehicle in violation of this section shall be impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of under Subsection B, except that if the Chief of Police determines that the cost of towing and storage charges for the impoundment would exceed the value of the vehicle, the vehicle may be junked by the municipality prior to expiration of the impoundment period upon determination by the Chief of Police that the vehicle is not wanted for evidence or other reason.
B.
Any abandoned vehicle shall be retained in storage for a period of 10 days after certified mail notice has been sent to the owner and lienholders of record to permit reclamation of the vehicle after payment of accrued charges. Thereafter, the Village may dispose of any abandoned vehicle which is determined by the Chief of Police to have a value in excess of $100 at a public auction. Any abandoned vehicle which is determined by the Chief of Police to have a value less than $100 may be disposed of by direct sale to a licensed salvage dealer. Before any sale can be consummated, the Chief of Police must determine that the vehicle is not reported stolen. Within five days after the disposal of a vehicle as herein provided, the Chief of Police shall advise the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation of such disposal on a form supplied by said Division.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
C.
The owner of any abandoned vehicle except a stolen vehicle is responsible for the abandonment and all costs of impounding and disposing of the vehicle. Costs not recovered from the sale of the vehicle may be recovered in a civil action by the Village against the owner.