[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Campbellsport Ord. No. 166, 1973 (Ch. 32, Art. XII, of the 2008 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person shall leave unattended any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, mobile home, or any gas-driven vehicle on any public street or highway or public or private property, for such time and under such circumstances as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned. When any such vehicle has been left unattended on any Village street or highway, or on any public or private property within the Village for more than 72 hours, the vehicle is deemed abandoned and constitutes a public nuisance. A motor vehicle shall not be considered an abandoned motor vehicle when it is out of ordinary public view or when designated as not abandoned by a duly authorized Village official pursuant to this chapter.
Any vehicle in violation of this chapter shall be impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of under § 452-3; except that, if the Chief of Police or his duly authorized representative 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 Village prior to expiration of the impoundment period upon determination by the Chief of Police or his duly authorized representative that the vehicle is not wanted for evidence or other reason. All substantially complete vehicles in excess of 19 model years of age shall be disposed of in accordance with § 452-3.
A. 
If the Chief of Police or his duly authorized representative determines that the value of the abandoned vehicle exceeds $100, he shall notify the owner and the lienholders of record by certified mail that the vehicle has been deemed abandoned and impounded by the Village and may be reclaimed within 15 days upon payment of accrued towing, storage and notice charges and, if not so reclaimed, shall be sold. Such notice shall set forth the year, make, model, and serial number of the abandoned motor vehicle, the place where the vehicle is being held, and shall inform the owner and any lienholders of their right to reclaim the vehicle. The notice shall state that the failure of the owner or lienholders to exercise their rights to reclaim the vehicle under this section shall be deemed a waiver of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle and a consent to the sale of the vehicle.
B. 
In the event an abandoned vehicle determined to exceed $100 in value is not reclaimed within the period and under the conditions as provided above, it may be sold by sealed bids. The description of the vehicle and the terms of sale shall be published as a Class 1 notice five days before the sale. At such sale, the highest bid for any such motor vehicle shall be accepted unless the same is deemed inadequate by a duly authorized Village representative, in which event all bids may be rejected. If all bids are rejected or no bid is received, the Village may either re-advertise the sale, adjourn the sale to a definite date, sell the motor vehicle at a private sale or junk the vehicle. Any interested person may offer bids on each abandoned vehicle to be sold.
C. 
After deducting the expense of impoundment and sale, the balance of the proceeds, if any, shall be paid into the Village treasury. Upon sale of an abandoned vehicle, the Village shall supply the purchaser with a completed form designed by the state department of transportation enabling the purchaser to obtain a regular certificate of title for the vehicle. The purchaser shall have 10 days to remove the vehicle from the storage area, but shall pay a reasonable storage fee established by the Village for each day the vehicle remains in storage after the second business day subsequent to the sale date. Ten days after the sale, the purchaser shall forfeit all interest in the vehicle and the vehicle shall be deemed to be abandoned and may be sold again. Any listing of vehicles to be sold by the Village shall be made available to any interested person or organization which makes a written request for such list. The Village may charge a fee for the list.
D. 
Any abandoned vehicle which is determined by the Chief of Police or his duly authorized representative to have a value of less than $100 may be disposed of by direct sale to a licensed salvage dealer upon determination that the vehicle is not reported stolen.
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 for the sale of the vehicle may be recovered in a civil action by the Village against the owner.
Within five days after the sale or disposal of a vehicle as provided in this chapter, the Chief of Police or his duly authorized representative shall advise the state department of transportation, division of motor vehicles, of such sale or disposition on a form supplied by the division. A copy of such form shall also be given to the purchaser of the vehicle and a copy shall be retained on file in the Village office.