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(a) It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to abandon, park, store or leave, or permit the abandonment, parking, storing or leaving of any licensed or unlicensed junk vehicle upon any private property or public property not including highways for a period in excess of five (5) days unless such junk vehicle is completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner where it is not plainly visible from the street or other public or private property, or unless such vehicle is parked in a lawful manner on private property in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer or a junk yard. (Ord. 746, § 16, 1/12/1971; Ord. 2332, § 1, 11/2/2004; Ord. 2576, § 7, 6/27/2017)

(b) Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be punished by a mandatory fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the County jail for a period not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and shall provide proof that the costs of removal and lawful disposition of the vehicle have been paid. Proof that the costs of removal and disposition of the vehicle have been paid shall not be required if proof is provided to the court that the vehicle was stolen prior to abandonment. That proof may consist of a police report or other evidence acceptable to the court. No part of any fine imposed shall be suspended. The fine may be paid in installments if the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the entire amount in one payment. (Ord. 2332, § 1, 11/2/2004; Ord. 2576, § 7, 6/27/2017)

(c) The abandonment of any motor vehicle in any manner that violates this section shall constitute a rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence that the last registered owner of record, not having complied with Section 5900 of the Vehicle Code, is responsible for such abandonment and is thereby liable for the cost of removal and disposition of the vehicle. The filing of a report of sale or transfer of the vehicle by a transferee pursuant to Section 5602, the filing of a vehicle theft report with a law enforcement agency, or the filing of a form or notice with the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 4456 or Section 5900 or 5901 relieves the registered owner of liability under this subdivision. (Ord. 2332, § 1, 11/2/2004; Ord. 2576, § 7, 6/27/2017)

(d) An owner who has made a bona fide sale or transfer of a vehicle and has delivered possession of the vehicle to a purchaser may overcome the presumption appearing in subdivision (c) by demonstrating the he or she has complied with vehicle Code sections 5900 or 5602 or providing other proof satisfactory to the court. (Ord. 2576, § 7, 6/27/2017)