Chapter 9.32
ABANDONED VEHICLES—PUBLIC PROPERTY
Sections:
9.32.020 Abandonment prohibited.
9.32.030 Impoundment—Disposition.
9.32.010 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
(a) “Abandoned vehicle” means any vehicle left upon the right-of-way of any county road or public property for a period of twenty-four hours or longer, except that a vehicle shall not be considered abandoned if its owner or operator is unable to remove it from the place where it is located and promptly so notifies law enforcement officials and requests assistance.
(b) “Abandoned vehicle hulk” means the abandoned remnant or remains of a motor vehicle which is inoperative and cannot be made mechanically operative without the addition of vital parts or mechanisms and the application of a substantial amount of labor to effect repair.
(c) “Person” means any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
(d) “Vehicle” includes every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. (§ 3 of Res. 75-13, January 20, 1975 at Vol. E page 244).
9.32.020 Abandonment prohibited.
No person shall abandon any vehicle or vehicle hulk, or leave any vehicle or vehicle hulk on any public property or county road right-of-way of Chelan County for such time and under such circumstances as to cause such vehicle to appear to have been abandoned, or contrary to the limitations of permitted parking as described in conspicuously posted signs. (§ 2 of Res. 75-13, January 20, 1975 at Vol. E page 244).
9.32.030 Impoundment—Disposition.
It shall be the duty of the sheriff or his authorized representative to remove and impound any abandoned vehicle or abandoned vehicle hulk or any vehicle left contrary to Section 9.32.020. If that vehicle, or any impounded vehicle, remains unclaimed for a period of fifteen days, it shall be deemed an abandoned vehicle, and at the expiration of such period said vehicle shall be deemed to be in the custody of the sheriff of the county where said vehicle is located, and the sheriff of the county shall deliver the vehicle to a registered disposer who shall dispose of such vehicle in the manner provided in RCW 46.52.111 and 46.52.112; provided, that if such vehicle is of a model ten or more years prior to the calendar year in which such vehicle is stored, the sheriff may declare that such vehicle is a public nuisance and may dispose of such vehicle without notice of sale, and in such case, he may request the Director of Motor Vehicles to issue an appropriate bill of sale to the registered disposer to dispose of the vehicle as he may determine. (§ 4 of Res. 75-13, January 20, 1975 at Vol. E page 244).
9.32.040 Violation—Penalty.
A violation of this chapter shall be deemed a misdemeanor punishable, upon conviction thereof, by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars and costs to the county of disposing of such motor vehicle, less any money accrued to the county from such disposal. (§ 5 of Res. 75-13, January 20, 1975 at Vol. E page 244).