[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Crystal Lake 1-19-1993 (Art. VI, Ch. II, Section D, of the 1993 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Junk — See Ch. 317.
Abandoned vehicles — See Ch. 492.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 496.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AUTHORIZED PLACE FOR STORAGE
Any garage or building that a motor vehicle is kept in when not in use, a place of business engaged in the wrecking or junking of motor vehicles or a place of business of a State of Illinois licensed automobile dealer.
INOPERABLE MOTOR VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle from which, for a period of at least seven days, the engine, wheels or other parts have been removed or on which the engine, wheels or other parts have been altered, damaged or otherwise so treated that the vehicle is incapable of being driven under its own motor power. "Inoperable motor vehicle" shall not include a motor vehicle which has been rendered temporarily incapable of being driven under its own motor power in order to perform ordinary service or repair operations. However, nothing in this chapter shall apply to any motor vehicle that is kept within a building when not in use, to operable historic vehicles over 25 years of age, or to a motor vehicle on the premises of a place of business engaged in the wrecking or junking of motor vehicles.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any automobile, bus, truck, motorcycle, motorbike, motor scooter, go-cart or any homemade or custom-made vehicle capable of being driven under its own motor power upon streets, roads or highways.
A. 
Whenever the City Manager, the Chief of Police or any police officer shall, in accordance with this chapter, determine that any motor vehicle is an inoperable motor vehicle, they shall serve notice on the last known owner of the motor vehicle. In the event the owner of the motor vehicle is unknown or cannot be ascertained, they shall serve notice on the owner or occupant of the real estate where the motor vehicle is located. Said notice shall inform the owner and operator of the motor vehicle or the owner or occupant of the said real estate that they shall remove said motor vehicle from the City of Crystal Lake or to an authorized place of storage within 10 days after receipt thereof, and the terms of said notice shall be substantially as follows:
To (owner of motor vehicle or of real estate motor vehicle is located upon). You are hereby notified that (description of motor vehicle) is located on the following premises (legal description or street address) within the limits of the City of Crystal Lake. Said motor vehicle is deemed to be an inoperable motor vehicle under the terms of the "Crystal Lake City Code, Chapter 508," and you have 10 days from the receipt of this notice to remove said motor vehicle from the City of Crystal Lake or to an authorized place of storage or you will be in violation of the "Crystal Lake City Code, Chapter 508."
B. 
For the purposes of this chapter, a person who last paid real estate taxes on the real estate on which said motor vehicle is located shall be deemed to be the owner of the real estate, and the person to whom the vehicle was last licensed shall be deemed to be an owner of said vehicle. Nothing in this chapter shall require the City of Crystal Lake to serve notice on both the owner of the motor vehicle and the property owner in the event the City of Crystal Lake is unable to determine who owns said motor vehicle by examination of license plates.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects, refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this chapter, including the terms of any notice served as provided by this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty. A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues, beginning with the 11th day after receipt of notice provided by this chapter.