§ 3-4-220. Abandoned property.

(a)

Any motor vehicle or other object left abandoned on the streets or on other public property within the jurisdiction of the county for a period exceeding seventy-two (72) hours, may be removed by, or at the direction of, the chief of police, and placed in storage, in order to preserve the safety of travel on the streets and the unobstructed use of public property. Any vehicle or object left abandoned in such a manner so as to create an obstruction, hazard or nuisance may be removed immediately upon direction of the chief of police. If owner can be ascertained, a letter of notification will be forwarded to the owner so that they are aware of the action taken and the location of the vehicle.

(b)

Abandoned property which remains unclaimed for sixty (60) days or longer after removal and storage shall be sold at public outcry as hereinafter provided.

(c)

After the expiration of sixty (60) days after removal and storage, notice of the sale of such abandoned property shall be placed in the county's official legal organ. Said notice shall describe the property and give other such information as will put the owner or other persons having knowledge thereof in possession of the facts, stating that the abandoned property will be exposed for sale at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, on a specified date and hour, not less than ten (10) days after advertisement, at the place where same is located. The rules governing such advertisement and sale shall be governed by state law.

(d)

On the date and hour specified by the advertisement, at the place where the abandoned property is located, said property shall be exposed to sale at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash. The proceeds of the sale shall be paid to the designated wrecker company possessing a county contract in payment for the removal, storage and advertisement of the abandoned property.

(e)

The designated wrecker company possessing a county contract shall submit to the board of commissioners through the county administrator, a written report of each such sale, including a copy of the newspaper advertisement, a description of the abandoned property sold corresponding to the advertisement, the date of removal from the streets or other public property, the date and time of the sale, the name and address of the purchases, and the sale price. Each such report shall thereafter be kept in a permanent file for such reports by the county clerk.

(f)

If the county administrator shall, at any time, desire to purchase for the county, for lawful county purposes, any abandoned property exposed for sale as herein provided, he may authorize any officer or employee of the county to bid for the county at such sale. Such authorization shall specify the property to be bid for and maximum amount which may be bid by such officer or employee.

(Ord. No. 82-10, § 4, 7-20-82)

State law reference

Abandoned vehicles, Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 40-11-1.