[Adopted 4-13-1982 by Ord. No. 23-1982]
A motor vehicle shall be deemed to be an abandoned vehicle if left unattended:
A.
Unregistered and/or with no number plates affixed for
more than six hours on any highway or other public place.
[Amended 8-13-1996 by Ord. No. 44-1996]
B.
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.
C.
For more than 48 hours after the parking of such vehicle
shall have been become illegal, if left on a portion of a highway or public
place on which parking is legally permitted.
D.
For more than 96 hours on property of another if left
without permission of the owner.
[Amended 8-13-1996 by Ord. No. 44-1996[1]]
If an abandoned vehicle, at the time of abandonment, is unregistered
and/or has no number plates affixed and is of a wholesale value, taking into
consideration the condition of the vehicle, of $750 or less, ownership shall
immediately vest in the local authority having jurisdiction thereof, and title
to the vehicle shall vest in accordance with applicable law and regulations
of the Commissioner; provided, however, that a local authority shall not be
required to obtain title to an abandoned vehicle that is subject to the provisions
of this section if the vehicle will be sold or otherwise disposed of as junk
or salvage, dismantled for use other than as a motor vehicle or otherwise
destroyed.
A.
[Amended 8-13-1996 by Ord. No. 44-1996]
Except for vehicles governed by § 263-6, the City of Cohoes, having
custody of an abandoned vehicle, shall make an inquiry concerning the last
owner of such vehicle as follows:
B.
The City of Cohoes shall notify the last owner, if known, that the vehicle in question has been recovered as an abandoned vehicle and that, if unclaimed, it will be sold at public auction after 10 days from the date such notice was given. If the agency described in Subsection A also notifies the City of Cohoes that a lien or mortgage exists, such notice shall also be sent to the lien-holder or mortgagee. The New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall prescribe the methods of giving notice. Any person claiming such vehicle shall be required to pay the costs of removing and storage of such vehicle.
C.
Ownership of such abandoned vehicles, if unclaimed, shall
vest in the City of Cohoes 10 days from the date such notice is given or,
if the last owner cannot be ascertained, when notice of such fact is received.
The City of Cohoes shall be entitled to custody of an abandoned vehicle
abandoned in the city, except that if a vehicle is abandoned on property of
New York State Thruway Authority or property under the jurisdiction of the
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Transportation
or a public authority or commission, such Authority, Office, department or
commission shall be entitled to the custody of such vehicle. Notwithstanding
any provision of this section to the contrary, the office of general services
shall be entitled to the custody of any vehicle abandoned on state property
subsequent to its sale by such office. The Commissioner may, by regulation,
provide that a county may act as the agent for a local authority for the purpose
of removing and disposing of abandoned vehicles.
A.
The City of Cohoes shall determine if an abandoned vehicle is suitable for operation on the public highways. If so, the vehicle shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder or converted pursuant to § 263-10 of this article.
B.
If the City of Cohoes determines that an abandoned vehicle
is not suitable for operation on the public highways, it shall remove and
destroy the vehicle identification number plate and sell the vehicle to a
vehicle dismantler or scrap processor registered or certified pursuant to
§ 415-a of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or to a vehicle dismantler
or scrap processor who does not have a place of business in this state but
who conforms to the laws and regulations of the state in which he has a place
of business.
C.
An abandoned vehicle without a vehicle identification
number plate must be sold only to a vehicle dismantler or a scrap processor
registered or certified pursuant to § 415-a of the Vehicle and Traffic
Law or to a vehicle dismantler or scrap processor who does not have a place
of business in this state but who conforms to the laws and regulations of
the state in which he has a place of business. Nothing contained herein shall
be construed as preventing the City of Cohoes from applying for a replacement
vehicle identification number plate.
A.
The City of Cohoes may convert to its own use those abandoned vehicles not affected by § 263-6 of this article or may, by sale or gift, transfer title to any of such vehicles to any other municipal corporation for use by its law enforcement agency; provided, however, that the total number of vehicles converted and/or transferred in any calendar year may not exceed 1% of the local authority's unclaimed abandoned vehicles not affected by § 263-6 of this article or two such vehicles, whichever is greater.[1]
B.
Any proceeds from the sale of an abandoned vehicle less
any expenses incurred by the City of Cohoes shall be held by the City of Cohoes
without interest, for the benefit of the owner of such vehicle for a period
of one year. If not claimed within such one-year period, such proceeds shall
be paid into the general fund of the city.
A.
No person shall cause any vehicle to be an abandoned
vehicle. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the owner of an abandoned
vehicle caused such vehicle to be abandoned. A violation of this section shall
be punishable by a fine of not more than $250.
B.
For purposes of this section only, the term "owner" means
any person, corporation, partnership, firm, agency, association, lessor or
organization who at the time of the issuance of a notice of violation for
a violation of this article:
(1)
Is the beneficial or equitable owner of the abandoned
vehicle;
(2)
Has title to such vehicle;
(3)
Is the registrant or coregistrant of such vehicle registered
with the Department of Motor Vehicles of this state or any other state, territory,
district, province, nation or other jurisdiction;
(4)
Uses such vehicle in its renting and/or leasing business;
or
The last owner of an abandoned vehicle shall be liable to the City of
Cohoes for the costs of removal and storage of such vehicle.
The City of Cohoes incorporates herein all rules and regulations prescribed
by the New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under and pursuant to
Vehicle and Traffic Law, § 1224.
Any police officer, towing service owner, operator or employee shall
not 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 any
other person legally entitled to the possession of a motor vehicle or other
vehicle when the vehicle was processed and sold or disposed of as provided
by this article.