10.10.020 Disposition of junk or abandoned vehicles.
A. Abandoned vehicles or junk may be impounded.
B. Adequate notice of impoundment and procedures for redemption of junk or a vehicle shall be given to registered owners of vehicles and other persons known to have a legal interest in them. Adequate notice shall consist of a certified letter or personal service, when the persons involved are known, or publication at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, if such persons are not known. The notice shall contain:
1. A description of the junk or vehicle and any property therein;
2. The date, time and place of removal;
3. An indication of the place of impoundment;
4. An itemized statement of amounts due the borough for towing and storage and stating that such fees must be paid prior to redemption of the junk or vehicle; and
5. A statement that unless the right to possession is established to the satisfaction of the mayor and the junk or vehicle reclaimed within 20 days from the date of mailing or publication of the notice, or unless arrangements are made for the storage of the junk or vehicle within that time, the junk or vehicle and its contents may be sold at public auction or, at the mayor’s discretion, if the junk or vehicle is determined to be inoperable or worth less than $200.00, disposed of by crushing or other means of destruction.
C. If the abandoned junk or vehicle impounded pursuant to the above provisions is not redeemed within the 20-day period set forth above, the mayor may publish in a newspaper of general circulation a notice of public auction. The notice shall contain a description of the junk or vehicle, the name of the owner if known, and a provision stating that the junk or vehicle described will be sold to the highest responsible bidder, and a certificate of sale will be issued for the junk or vehicle sold. Such auction may be held 10 days or more following the date of advertisement. The impounded junk or vehicle may also be crushed or otherwise destroyed as provided in subsection B of this section without further notice at the expiration of the 20-day redemption period. If a vehicle is destroyed, the mayor shall notify the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety as provided by AS 28.10.440.
D. The borough shall keep a record of all junk and vehicles impounded, containing the date, time and place of impounding, description of the junk or vehicle and contents therein, estimated retail value of the junk or vehicle, its operating condition, cause for which impounded, place of impoundment, date of redemption if redeemed, amount paid upon redemption, date of notice to owner and means of notice, notice of sale, record of sale, price paid, and name of purchaser, or record of other means of disposal.
E. Abandoned junk or vehicles may be removed from private property if the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property makes a written request prior to removal. [Ord. 84-61-O §10, 1984; Ord. 82-4-O, 1982].