<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 31-8 Abandoned vehicles.">
  <section prefix="§" num="31-8" heading="Abandoned vehicles.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="“Department” defined.">In this section, “Department” means:<para num="(1)">the Department of Transportation, if that agency has been designated for these purposes by the Board of Estimates, as provided in State Transportation Article (“Maryland Vehicle Law”) § 25-201(e)(3); or</para>
      <para num="(2)">otherwise, the Baltimore City Police Department.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Abandonment prohibited.">The abandonment of a vehicle on the streets of the City, on any other public property, or on any private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of that private property is prohibited by State Transportation Article (“Maryland Vehicle Law”) § 25-202, subject to the penalties provided in Maryland Vehicle Law Title 27.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Removal of vehicle — on public property.">If a vehicle has been abandoned on a street or any other public property, the Department may have the vehicle removed as provided in this subtitle.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Removal of vehicle — on private property.">
      <para num="(1)">If a vehicle has been abandoned on private property, the Department shall first ascertain who owns or controls the property and make a reasonable effort to discover whether the vehicle is parked or stored on the property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the property.</para>
      <para num="(2)">The vehicle is deemed abandoned and may be towed or otherwise removed, as provided for vehicles found abandoned on public property, if:<para num="(i)">by reasonable investigation, the Department determines that the vehicle is parked on the property without the consent of the owner or person in control;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the owner or person in control cannot be located within a reasonable period of time; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">the storage of the vehicle is in violation of the zoning laws or regulations of the City as applied to that property.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 31, §91</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 69-343</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 71-1162</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 83-1000</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-421</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 06-347</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-435</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
