Chapter 10.40 — ABANDONED VEHICLES

Editor's note— For statutory provisions authorizing cities to provide for removal as public nuisances of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, see Vehicle Code § 22661(e).

Pursuant to the determination made and the authority granted by the State Legislature under Section 22660 of the Vehicle Code of the state to remove abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof from private and public property as public nuisances, the city council makes the following findings and declarations:

The accumulation and storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof on private or public property, not including highways, is found to create a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, to create a harborage for rodents and insects and to be injurious to the health, safety and general welfare. Therefore, the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part thereof on private or public property, not including highways, except as expressly permitted in this chapter, is declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 318 §1, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

This chapter is not the exclusive regulation of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles within the city. It shall supplement and be in addition to the other regulatory statutes and ordinances heretofore or hereafter enacted by the state, the city, or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction.

(Ord. 318 §4, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

Except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter:

A.

"Administrative costs" means the costs to the city, and to the county when acting on behalf of the city pursuant to an agreement, of performing the acts required under this chapter, except the actual removal of the vehicle. The city council may, from time to time by resolution, determine the administrative costs for the removal of each vehicle removed by the city if the vehicle is removed without a hearing pursuant to Section 10.40.090. When the acts required by this chapter are performed by the county acting on behalf of the city, the administrative costs, if the vehicle is removed without a hearing, shall be that amount to be determined from time to time by the board of supervisors to be the administrative costs of removal of abandoned vehicles from unincorporated areas of the county rather than the amount determined by the city council. In those cases in which the police chief conducts a hearing pursuant to Section 10.40.090, he shall fix and determine the administrative costs which shall be the actual cost of performing acts pertaining to the specific vehicle which is the subject of the hearing.

B.

"Cost of removal" means the actual cost to the city of having the vehicle removed. The city council may, from time to time, by resolution, determine the cost of removal.

C.

"Highway" means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. "Highway" also includes streets.

D.

"Public property" does include "highway."

E.

"Vehicle" means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, except a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. "Vehicle" also includes any part or portion of a vehicle which is less than a whole vehicle, and all of the provisions of this chapter apply to a part or portion of a vehicle which is less than a whole vehicle.

(Ord. 318 §2, 1974; Ord. 329 §1, 1975; Ord. 519 §1, 1992; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

A.

This chapter shall not apply to either of the following:

A vehicle which is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner so that it is not visible from the street or other public or private property;

A vehicle which is stored or parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer or a junkyard, or when such storage or parking is necessary to the operation of a lawfully conducted business or commercial enterprise.

B.

Nothing in this section shall authorize the maintenance of a public or private nuisance as defined under provisions of law other than Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650) of Division 11 of the Vehicle Code of the state and this chapter.

(Ord. 318 §3, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

If it appears to the chief of police that an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle is located on private or public property, he may follow such administrative procedures to secure voluntary removal of such vehicle as appear advisable in each individual case prior to giving a notice of intention to abate pursuant to Section 10.40.060 of this chapter.

(Ord. 318 §7, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

If the chief of police cannot secure voluntary removal of the vehicle, pursuant to Section 10.40.050, he shall give written notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle. The notice shall contain a statement of the hearing rights of the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located and the owner of the vehicle. The statement shall include notice to the property owner that he may appear in person at a hearing or may present a sworn written statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on the land with the reasons for such denial, in lieu of appearing. The notice of intention to abate shall be mailed, by certified mail, to the owner of the land as shown on the last equalized assessment roll and to the last registered and legal owners of record of the vehicle unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership.

(Ord. 318 §8, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

The registered or legal owner of the vehicle or the owner of the land on which the vehicle is located may request a hearing on the question of abatement and removal of the abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle and on the question of assessment of the administrative costs and cost of removal against the property on which it is located. Such request for a hearing shall be in writing and shall be filed with the chief of police not more than ten days after the date on which the notice of intention described in

Section 10.40.060 was mailed by the chief of police. If the owner of the land on which the vehicle is located files with the chief of police a sworn statement denying responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on his land within the ten-day period, the statement shall be construed as a request for a hearing which does not require the presence of the owner submitting such request.

(Ord. 318 §9, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

If no hearing is requested within the time limit specified in Section 10.40.070, the chief of police shall cause the vehicle to be removed and taken to a junkyard, automobile dismantling yard, or refuse disposal site. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.40.070, when no hearing has been requested, the owner shall be required to pay the administrative costs as determined by the city council or the Board of Supervisors, and the cost of removal as determined by the city council in accordance with Section 10.40.030. The chief of police shall send a request for payment of the costs to the owner of the property by regular mail, and if he does not pay the costs within thirty days after the date on which the letter was mailed, the procedure set forth in subsection C. of Section 10.40.160 shall be followed.

(Ord. 318 §10, 1974; Ord. 329 §2, 1975; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

If a public hearing has been requested in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.40.070, a public hearing shall be held on the question of abatement and removal of a vehicle and the assessment of the administrative costs and cost of removal against the property on which it is located. The chief of police shall cause notices of the time and place of the hearing to be sent by regular mail to the owner of the land as shown on the last equalized county assessment roll, and to the last registered and legal owners of record of the vehicle unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership. The notices shall be mailed at least ten days before the date of the hearing.

(Ord. 318 §11, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

The public hearing under this chapter shall be conducted by the chief of police. The chief of police shall hear all pertinent evidence offered by all interested persons, including testimony on the condition of the vehicle and the circumstances concerning its location on private property or public property. The technical rules of evidence shall not be applicable to the hearing. The owner of the land on which the vehicle is located may appear in person at the hearing or present a sworn written statement for consideration at the hearing. The owner of the land may deny responsibility for the presence of the vehicle on the land, with his reasons for such denial.

(Ord. 318 §12, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

A.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the chief of police may find that a vehicle has been abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or is inoperative on private or public property and order the same removed from the property as a public nuisance and disposed of as provided in this chapter. He may also determine the amount of the administrative costs, in accordance with Sections 10.40.030 and 10.40.150, and may determine that all or a portion of the administrative costs and the cost of removal are to be charged against the owner of the land on which the vehicle is located.

B.

If it is determined by the chief of police that the vehicle was placed on the land without the consent of the landowner and that he has not subsequently acquiesced in its presence, the chief of police shall not assess administrative costs or the cost of removal of the vehicle against the owner of the land on which the vehicle is located or otherwise attempt to collect such costs from such landowner.

C.

The chief of police may impose such conditions and take such other action as he deems appropriate under the circumstances to carry out the purposes of this chapter. He may delay the time for removal of the vehicle if, in his opinion, the circumstances justify it.

D.

The chief of police shall give written notice of his decision to all of the interested persons to whom the notice of hearing was mailed.

(Ord. 318 §13, 1974; Ord. 329 §3, 1975; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

A.

At any time after the chief of police orders an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle to be removed, pursuant to Section 10.40.110, any interested party may cause such vehicle to be removed. If the chief of police has assessed administrative costs and the cost of removal against the property on which the vehicle is located, and the vehicle is voluntarily removed without cost to the city, only the administrative costs shall thereafter be collected from the owner of the land.

B.

If no appeal has been filed and the vehicle has not been removed within ten days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after the notice of the decision of the chief of police was mailed to the interested parties, the chief of police shall cause the vehicle to be removed and taken to a junkyard, automobile dismantling yard, or refuse disposal site.

C.

If an appeal has been filed and the vehicle has not been removed within ten days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after the notice of the decision of the city council was mailed to the interested

parties, the chief of police shall cause the vehicle to be removed and taken to a junkyard, automobile dismantling yard, or refuse disposal site.

(Ord. 318 §15, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

After a vehicle has been removed, it shall not be reconstructed or made operable, unless it is a vehicle which qualifies for either horseless carriage license plates or historical vehicle license plates, in which case the vehicle may be reconstructed or made operable.

(Ord. 318 §16, 1974; Ord. 388 §1, 1978; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

Within five days after the date of removal of the vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the chief of police shall give notice of the removal to the department of motor vehicles of the state identifying the vehicle removed and transmit to the department any evidence of registration available, including but not limited to registration certificates, certificates of title and license plates.

(Ord. 318 §17, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

A.

If the chief of police has caused the vehicle to be removed from the property, and he has assessed administrative costs and the cost of removal against the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located, he shall mail a notice to the owner of the property of the total costs to be paid by the owner of the property.

B.

If any interested party has caused the vehicle to be removed from the property without cost to the city, and the chief of police has previously assessed administrative costs and the cost of removal against the owner of the property on which the vehicle is located, the chief of police shall mail a notice to the owner of the property of the administrative costs to be paid by the owner of the property.

C.

If the costs referred to in subsections A. and B. of this section are not paid within thirty days after the date on which the notice referred to therein is mailed to the owner of the property, the city council may direct the county auditor to place the unpaid costs on the city tax roll as a special assessment against the property pursuant to Section 38773.5 of the Government Code of the state. The assessment shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as ordinary city taxes are collected, and shall be subject to the same penalties and the same procedure and sale in case of delinquency as provided for ordinary city taxes. All laws applicable to the levy, collection and enforcement of city taxes shall be applicable to such special assessment.

(Ord. 318 §18, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

A.

The city council may, from time to time, enter into agreements with the state, through the California highway patrol, or such other agency of the state as shall be designated by the state, providing that the state shall pay all or any portion of the administrative costs. The city council may from time to time determine by resolution whether such payment agreed upon is sufficient to pay all or only a portion of the costs of administration.

B.

Whenever the city has entered into an agreement with the county for the performance by the county of such acts as under this chapter may be delegated to the county, the county may contract with the state for the payment to the county of such administrative costs for the removal of vehicles removed within the city. In such case if the county makes a determination whether payments received from the state for removal of abandoned vehicles are sufficient to pay all or only a portion of the administrative cost, that determination shall apply also to payments of administrative costs of removal of vehicles within the city.

C.

Except where administrative costs are determined by the chief of police at a hearing, the amount assessed against an owner of land pursuant to Sections 10.40.110 and 10.40.150 shall be limited to the portion of the administrative cost found to be not covered by such an agreement with the state and the cost of removal. This limitation on the assessment shall apply to all cases assessed while such a resolution is in effect. However, said limitation shall not apply to cases in which the written notice of intention to remove was mailed prior to the effective date of the resolution and the resolution increases the amount to be assessed.

D.

Any cost of removal incurred shall be paid by the city out of its general fund.

(Ord. 318 §18.5, 1974; Ord. 329 §4, 1975; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the chief of police and the employees in his department or other persons authorized by him to administer and enforce this chapter. The city council may by agreement transfer enforcement of this chapter to the county. The county offices to whom the enforcement is so transferred shall enjoy the rights and perform the duties of the chief of police created by this chapter. No such agreement shall effect the duty of the chief of police to conduct the hearing prescribed by Section 10.40.100.

(Ord. 318 §5, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)

A.

The chief of police, the employees in his department and other persons authorized by him or a county officer authorized by agreement to enforce this chapter, and persons authorized by him, may enter upon private or public property to examine a vehicle and to obtain information as to the ownership and identity of a vehicle when enforcing this chapter.

B.

If the city enters into a contract with any person to remove or cause the removal of vehicles which have been declared to be public nuisances pursuant to this chapter, such person may enter upon private or public property to remove such vehicles.

C.

Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who in any way denies, obstructs or hampers the entrance of the persons mentioned in this section upon private or public property to carry out the aforementioned duties or who denies, obstructs or hampers the performance of such duties by such persons after they have entered the property.

(Ord. 318 §6, 1974; Ord. No. 696, §1, 4-27-2021)