§ 31-8. Abandoned vehicles.

(a) "Department" defined.

In this section, "Department" means:

(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

(2) otherwise, the Baltimore City Police Department.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) Removal of vehicle — on private property.

(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.

(2) The vehicle is deemed abandoned and may be towed or otherwise removed, as provided for vehicles found abandoned on public property, if:

(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;

(ii) the owner or person in control cannot be located within a reasonable period of time; or

(iii) the storage of the vehicle is in violation of the zoning laws or regulations of the City as applied to that property.