AN ORDINANCE OF THE
REGARDING SEIZURE
The Board of
Supervisors of the
Section 1. Statement of Purpose and Intent.
A. The Board of Supervisors has determined that illegal dumping
is a grave concern that endangers the public health and safety within the
unincorporated area of
B. The Board of Supervisors has further determined that persons
who operate vehicles and use them to illegally dump waste matter, or to
transport waste matter for the purpose of illegally dumping it, within the
unincorporated area of Riverside County;
create blight and decay in local neighborhoods, cause public health
hazards, and invite additional illegal dumping.
Such blight, decay and unhealthful conditions negatively impact the
quality of life of residents and lead to the loss of property values. The Board of Supervisors has further
determined that seizing and impounding the vehicles of persons that are used to
illegally dump or transport waste matter for the purpose of illegally dumping
it will serve as a deterrent to such persons.
The Board of Supervisors finds that there is a need to provide for the
abatement of such nuisance vehicles.
C. The procedures contained in this chapter for the seizure and
impoundment of nuisance vehicles are expressly intended as a remedy to abate
the nuisance, to protect residents and the public from harm to their health,
safety, and welfare; to avoid the destruction and injury to lives and property;
and to compensate the
Section 2. Definitions.
“Authorized public officer” shall mean a public
officer authorized under Riverside County Ordinance 556.
“Business
day” shall mean any weekday other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday
which falls on a day other than a Saturday or Sunday.
“County”
shall mean the
“District
Attorney” shall mean the District Attorney of the
“Claimant”
shall mean any person claiming an interest in a nuisance vehicle subject to
impoundment under this chapter by properly requesting a post-storage hearing as
set forth in Section 5.
“Illegal
dumping” shall mean the willful or intentional depositing, dropping, dumping,
placing, or throwing of any waste matter onto that portion of public or private
property located within the unincorporated area of the County and which is not
expressly designated by the County for the purpose of disposal of waste matter. “Illegal dumping” does not include the
discarding of small personal quantities of waste matter related to consumer
goods only and which are reasonably understood to be ordinarily carried on or
about the body of a living person, including but not limited to, beverage
containers and closures, packaging, wrappers, wastepaper, newspapers, magazines,
or other similar waste matter that escapes or is allowed to escape from a
container, receptacle or package.
“Local
law enforcement or governmental entities” means any city, charter city, county,
charter county, or city and county, or the respective agencies and departments
thereof, in the State of
“Nuisance”
shall have the same meaning as set forth in California Civil Code § 3479.
“Owner”
shall mean the last registered owner; the last legal owner; and any,
then-existing lien holder; of record as shown on the records of the California
Department of Motor vehicles or similar state or federal agency, for any
Vehicle used for any of the nuisance activities subject to this chapter.
“Potential
Claimant” shall mean any owner or other party as determined by the
investigation referenced in Section 4, for any vehicle used for any of the
nuisance activities subject to this chapter.
“Vehicle”
shall mean a vehicle as that term is defined in California Vehicle Code § 670,
and a motor vehicle as that term is defined in California Vehicle Code § 415.
“Waste
Matter” shall mean any form of tangible matter described by any of the
following categories:
1)
all
forms of trash, garbage, waste, debris, refuse matter, rocks, dirt or
demolition materials as those terms are used in Riverside County Ordinance 689;
2)
all
forms of rubbish as that term is used in Riverside County Ordinance 541;
3)
soil,
decomposed rock, gravel, sand, or other aggregate material;
4)
abandoned
or discarded furniture, tires, or commercial or industrial or agricultural
machinery, apparatus, or container; sports or athletic equipment; construction
materials or supplies; or any piece, portion or part thereof;
5)
hazardous
waste as that term is defined in California Health and Safety Code § 25117;
6)
all
forms of liquid waste not otherwise defined in or otherwise deemed to fall
within the coverage afforded by California Health and Safety Code § 25117;
including but not limited to, gray water, black water, water-based or oil-based
paints; chemical solutions; non-potable water, except as specifically used for
irrigation or construction; non-potable water contaminated with any substance
rendering it unusable for irrigation or construction; oils, fuels, hydrocarbon
liquids, and other petroleum distillates or by-products; and
7)
any
form of biological waste not otherwise designated as hazardous waste; including
but not limited to, bodily fluids, body parts, carcasses, and any associated
container, enclosure, or wrapping material used to dispose of such matter.
Section 3. Abatement of Nuisance Vehicles.
A.
Any vehicle used to illegally dump waste matter in violation of this
Code or other applicable state law is declared a nuisance.
B.
Any vehicle used to transport waste matter for the purpose of illegal
dumping in violation of this Code or other applicable state law is declared a
nuisance.
C.
All such nuisance vehicles shall be abated through seizure and impoundment
procedures as provided in this chapter, subject to the exceptions set forth at
Section 7.
D.
Any person who owns, leases, borrows, possesses, maintains, or uses any
vehicle for any of the purposes or acts set forth in this section is
responsible for creating a nuisance.
E.
A nuisance vehicle shall be seized and impounded for 30 days each time
such vehicle is determined to be a nuisance under this chapter.
F.
A criminal conviction shall not be required as a prerequisite to any
proceeding brought pursuant to the authority of this chapter.
G.
Physical seizure of a nuisance vehicle subject to this chapter shall not
be required as a prerequisite to institution of impoundment proceedings.
Section 4. Seizure of Vehicle.
A. Authority for Seizure. A peace officer or authorized public officer of
a local law enforcement or governmental agency may seize a vehicle subject to
impoundment under this chapter upon the issuance of a seizure order by any
court having jurisdiction over the vehicle.
Seizure without court order may be made in any of the following
circumstances:
1. The seizure is incident to an arrest or
search under a search warrant;
2. There is probable cause to believe that
the vehicle was used in violation of this chapter
based
upon a reasonable investigation of the facts.
B. Receipts. A peace officer or authorized public officer of
a local law enforcement or governmental agency seizing a vehicle under this
chapter shall complete a receipt and deliver it to the person from whose
possession the vehicle was seized. Where
such a possessor is arrested for a public offense incidental to the vehicle’s
seizure, then the receipt shall be issued in accordance with California Penal
Code § 1412. For the purposes of this
chapter, neither California Penal Code § 1412 nor any provision of this chapter
shall be construed as precluding the delivery of a completed Vehicle Report (
C. Investigation. A prompt investigation shall be made by the local
law enforcement or governmental agency making the seizure as to any potential
claimant to a seized vehicle whose right, title, interest or lien is of record
in the Department of Motor Vehicles of this state or any other state or
appropriate federal agency.
D. Towing
and Storage – Costs a Lien on Vehicle.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and/or Building & Safety
Department shall make arrangements for the towing of a seized vehicle and its
storage at a facility selected by the Director of the Transportation and Land
Management Agency or that person’s designee.
Any costs of seizure, impounding, towing, storage and any other related
costs shall be obligations of the registered and legal owners of the vehicle
and shall constitute a lien on the vehicle.
E. Seized
Vehicles as Evidence. A nuisance vehicle seized pursuant to this
chapter, where appropriate, may be held for evidence in any proceeding brought
by the District Attorney.
F. No Seizure; Potential Claimant
Information. In those instances where a nuisance vehicle
subject to this chapter is identified but not seized and the local law
enforcement or governmental agency’s investigation reveals any potential
claimants whose right, title, interest or lien existed prior to the commission
of the act giving rise to the nuisance; then the local law enforcement or
governmental agency shall provide the name, address, and other identifying
information, if any, of each potential claimant to the District Attorney.
G. Seizure
Order.
1. Where sufficient reason under this
chapter warrants the seizure and impoundment of a nuisance vehicle and that
vehicle has not been seized; the District Attorney may proceed by seeking a
seizure order in conjunction with the initiation of impoundment proceedings
pursuant to this chapter. The seizure
order request shall be supported by appropriate affidavit(s) or declaration(s) detailing
the factual circumstances giving rise to a nuisance under this chapter. The supporting affidavit(s) or declaration(s)
shall be those of the investigating officers of the County who have personal
knowledge of the factual circumstances.
2. Where the District Attorney seeks a
seizure order, the seizure order shall be sought as soon as practicable, but in
no event later than one year from the date of commission of the act giving rise
to the nuisance.
3. Upon sufficient showing of good cause,
the court shall issue the seizure order.
4. A peace officer or authorized public
officer shall serve the seizure order.
Upon seizure of the vehicle identified in the seizure order, the local
law enforcement or governmental agency making the seizure shall provide a copy
of the seizure order to the person from whose possession the vehicle was
seized. In the event that no one is
present at the time of seizure, the local law enforcement or governmental
agency making the seizure shall leave a copy of the seizure order at a
conspicuous place at the premises where the vehicle was seized.
Section 5. Post-Storage Hearing Opportunity on
Vehicles Subject to Impoundment.
A. Opportunity for Hearing.
The County shall provide any potential claimant whose vehicle is subject
to the 30-day impoundment period referenced in Section 3 with the opportunity
for a post-storage hearing to determine the validity of the seizure and impound
as based on whether there was probable cause to believe the vehicle was used in
violation of this chapter.
B. Notice of Seizure and Impounding.
The County shall provide a notice of seizure and impounding with respect
to any vehicle that is subject to the 30-day impoundment period referenced in
Section 3 according to the following procedure:
1. At the time a nuisance vehicle is
seized pursuant to this chapter by a local law enforcement or governmental
agency, the seizing officer shall provide a notice of seizure and impounding to
the person from whose possession the vehicle was seized.
2. If the local law enforcement or
governmental agency’s investigation reveals any potential claimants, other than
the person from whom the nuisance vehicle was seized, and whose right, title,
interest or lien existed prior to the commission of the act giving rise to the
nuisance; then the County shall send a notice of seizure and impounding to each
potential claimant within two business days following the date the vehicle was
seized and impounded. Said notice shall
be served by regular 1st class mail to the potential claimant’s address
appearing on the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles of this state or
any other state or appropriate federal agency.
3. The notice of seizure and impounding
shall include the following:
a. The name, address, and telephone number
of the County public agency providing the notice.
b. The location of the place of storage
and description of the vehicle, which shall include, if available, the name or
make, model, manufacturer, license plate number, vehicle identification number
(V.I.N.), and mileage.
c. The authority and reason for the
vehicle’s seizure and impoundment by the County.
d. A statement that, in order to receive a
post-storage hearing, a potential claimant shall request the hearing in person,
writing, or by telephone within ten business days of the date appearing on the
notice.
e. A statement that all costs of seizure,
impounding, towing, storage and any other related costs shall be obligations of
the registered and legal owners of the vehicle and shall constitute a lien on
the vehicle.
C. Manner of Hearing.
The County shall conduct the post-storage hearing as provided in this
chapter and pursuant to California Vehicle Code § 22852.
D. Hearing
Officer. The County may authorize
its own officer or employee to act as a hearing officer and conduct the
post-storage hearing, provided that the officer so chosen is not the same
person who directed or participated in the seizure and impounding of the
nuisance vehicle.
E. Request
for Hearing. Any claimant who
desires a post-storage hearing must make a request to the County in person,
writing, or by telephone as specified in the notice of seizure and
impounding. The request shall be made
within ten business days of the date appearing on the notice. Failure to make a timely request or to attend
a scheduled hearing shall constitute the claimant’s waiver of any right to a
post-storage hearing and satisfies the requirement for such a hearing.
F. Time
for hearing. The post-storage
hearing shall be conducted within two business days of the date of the first
request received by the County from any claimant.
G. Multiple
Claimants; Notice of Scheduled Hearing.
1. If there are multiple claimants, then
upon receipt of the first request for a post-storage hearing, the County shall
send written notice, by regular 1st
class mail, of the date, time, and location of the post-storage hearing
to the remaining claimants.
2. The County shall not be required to
conduct multiple post-storage hearings for each seized and impounded vehicle.
3. Claimants who cannot attend the
post-storage hearing as scheduled, and wish to be heard, may send a written
statement for the hearing officer’s consideration to the County at the address
specified in the notice of seizure and impounding.
H. Findings
of Hearing Officer.
1. If
the hearing officer determines that no probable cause existed for the seizure,
the vehicle shall be released as soon as practicable to the appropriate
claimant without imposing any towing, storage or administrative charges. The District Attorney and each claimant shall
be notified of the release.
2. If the hearing officer determines that
probable cause existed for the seizure and that none of the exceptions set
forth in Section 7 are applicable, the vehicle shall be retained by the County
for the remainder of the 30-day impoundment period referenced in Section 3.
Section 6. Impoundment Costs and Lien Sale.
A. In addition to imposed towing and storage charges, there
shall be imposed on the registered and legal owner of any vehicle impounded and
stored under this chapter an administrative charge in the amount set by
resolution adopted by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to establish
the administrative costs relating to the seizure, removal, impound, storage and
release of vehicles used in violation of this chapter. All of the foregoing costs shall be paid to
the County prior to the release of the vehicle to the appropriate claimant and
shall constitute a lien on the vehicle.
B. In
the event that the costs are not paid as provided in this chapter, the County
may exercise its lien rights and cause the vehicle to be sold to recover its
costs and expenses in accordance with the applicable procedures set forth in
the California Vehicle Code and Civil Code.
Section 7. Exceptions to Impoundment of Nuisance
Vehicles.
A. Seized
vehicles.
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
chapter, the County shall return a seized vehicle, and that vehicle shall not
be subject to impoundment, upon the determination of any of the following
circumstances:
a. The vehicle was actually stolen,
provided that:
(1) the theft was reported to a law enforcement
agency prior to the vehicle's use in violation of this chapter;
(2) the identity of the registered owner can be
reasonably ascertained; and
(3) the registered owner redeems the vehicle
within 60 days of the seizure.
b. The vehicle is owned by the employer of
the person who used it in violation of this chapter, provided that all of the
following apply:
(1) the use was made without the employer's
knowledge and consent;
(2) the use did not provide a direct benefit to
the employer's business; and
(3) the use did not further or advance the
employer's business interests in any way, and the use was of such nature that
had the employer known, the use would have resulted in termination or substantial
discipline.
Section 8. Recovery of Monetary Loss.
Nothing in this chapter shall preclude an owner of a nuisance vehicle
subject to seizure and impoundment who suffers a monetary loss from the
impoundment of a vehicle under this chapter from recovering the amount of the
actual monetary loss from the person who committed the act giving rise to the
nuisance that resulted in impoundment.
Section 9. Severability.
If any portion, provision, section, paragraph, sentence, or word of this
Ordinance is rendered or declared to be invalid by any final court action in a
court of competent jurisdiction, or by reason of any preemptive legislation,
the remaining portions, provisions, sections, paragraphs, sentences, and words
of this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect and shall be
interpreted by the court so as to give effect to such remaining portions of the
Ordinance.
Section 10. This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30)
days after its adoption.
Adopted:
840 Item 9.1 of 06/14/2005 (Eff: 07/13/2005)