A. If a motor vehicle or junk vehicle removed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is not redeemed within the thirty- (30-) day period set forth in BMC 10.15.050, the chief of police of the Bethel police department may publish in a newspaper of general circulation notice of public auction for disposal of the removed motor vehicle or junk vehicle.

B. The notice of public auction shall contain a description of the vehicle, the name of the registered owner, if known, and a provision stating that the vehicle described shall be sold to the highest responsible bidder by closed, sealed bid, and a certificate of sale issued for the vehicle sold.

C. Such auction may be held not less than twenty (20) days following the date of publication of the notice of public auction.

D. A person who presents satisfactory proof of ownership or right to possession may redeem a vehicle removed under this chapter at any time before an auction under this section by paying the accrued charges for towing, storage, notice, other costs of removal and any applicable penalty imposed by law.

E. Vehicles not redeemed by the owner or those with legal interest in the vehicle and not sold at public auction and those which are deemed inoperable or worth less than two hundred dollars ($200) according to the National Automobile Dealer’s Association Blue Book may, without further notice, be destroyed. When such a vehicle is destroyed, the chief of police shall notify the Alaska Department of Public Safety Division of Motor Vehicles of the vehicle’s destruction.

F. The Bethel police department shall keep a record of all vehicles and junk vehicles, including the date, time and place of removal, a description of the vehicle and its contents, its estimated retail value, the vehicle’s operating condition, the cause for which the vehicle was removed, the location where the vehicle is stored, the date of redemption if redeemed, the amount paid upon redemption, the date of and means of notice to the owner or other party required to receive notice under this chapter, the date of notice of sale, record of sale, price paid and name of purchaser, or record of other means of disposal. Such record shall be kept for a period of four (4) years and thereafter will be destroyed by the department.

G. Nothing in this section shall impair any lien rights created under AS 28.11.090. [Ord. 198, 1990.]