If the county, its Police Department or other agencies, through their agents, employees
or contractors, should remove, store or dispose of any inoperative motor vehicle,
trailer or semitrailer, then the entity performing such services may charge the costs
of removal, storage and disposal to the owner of the vehicle and/or the owner of the
property from which the vehicle was removed.
If any inoperative motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is disposed of through sale
and the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to pay the costs of removal, storage
and disposal, then any entity responsible for the removal, storage and disposal shall
have the authority to charge the remaining costs to the owner of the vehicle and/or
the owner of the property from which the vehicle was removed. If such remaining costs
are unpaid, the County may at its discretion collect the remaining costs as taxes
and levies are collected; however, this Section shall not be construed to require
the County, the Board of Supervisors, the Police Department or any other agency or
employee of the County to reimburse any claimants for the remaining costs unless and
until such costs are collected by the County. Every cost authorized by this Section
shall constitute a lien against the property from which the vehicle was removed. The
lien shall continue until actual payment of such costs and legal rate of interest
are made to the County.
If any inoperative motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer is disposed of by sale and
the proceeds of such sale exceed the costs of removal, storage and disposal, then
the last-known registered owner of the vehicle shall be so notified in writing at
their last-known address and shall be allowed thirty (30) days from delivery or service
of the notice to claim such excess proceeds. Failure to claim the excess proceeds
within the time allotted shall bar any future claims for recovery. (25-87-110.)
