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Council unanimously adopts updated abandoned-vehicle ordinance to align with state law
Summary
Vanderburgh County Council unanimously adopted ordinance CO04-26-008 to repeal and replace the county’s abandoned-vehicle ordinance, aligning county procedures and fees with Indiana Code IC 9-22 and enabling the sheriff’s office to use a dedicated fund for towing, storage and enforcement equipment.
Vanderburgh County Council unanimously adopted ordinance CO04-26-008 on April 1, updating the county’s abandoned-vehicle rules to align with state statute IC 9-22 and establishing fees for towing and storage to be deposited in a dedicated abandoned-vehicle fund.
Sheriff Noah Robinson summarized the changes, explaining the ordinance brings local code into line with state definitions and procedures for designating a vehicle as "abandoned," including private-property and public-property criteria (vehicle left on private property more than 20 days, on public property more than 48 hours, or otherwise in violation of statute). The sheriff said the fund can be used to cover towing, sale and disposal costs and to procure equipment and supplies for abandoned-vehicle investigations.
Council voted to waive a second reading and to adopt the ordinance in a single meeting, with all members voting yes. Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the ordinance applies to public roads and private property; Sheriff Robinson confirmed both could be within scope depending on statutory criteria.
The council said the revised ordinance will allow the sheriff’s office to follow state procedures more consistently and to use the abandoned-vehicle fund for enforcement-related costs.
