15.08.355 Impoundment of aircraft.
(1) If an owner hangaring or parking an aircraft on the airport fails to pay any airport charge owed it, the owner’s account is at least 60 days delinquent, and the owner’s written contract includes the remedies provided in Section 2, Chapter 254, Laws of 1987 (chapter 14.08 RCW) the airport manager or his designee may take reasonable measures including, but not limited to, moving the aircraft, or using chains, ropes and locks to secure the aircraft within the airport so that the aircraft is in the possession and control of Snohomish county. At the time of securing the aircraft, the airport manager or designee shall attach to the aircraft a readily visible notice and send a copy of said notice to the owner, all in compliance with Section 2, Chapter 254, Laws of 1987 (chapter 14.08 RCW).
(2) The aircraft, at the discretion of the airport manager or his designee, may be placed within the airport for storage with a private person as bailee. Reasonable costs of any procedures undertaken pursuant to this section shall be paid for by the aircraft’s owner.
(3) If an aircraft is moved under conditions authorized under this section the owner who is obligated for hangaring or parking or other airport charges may regain possession of the aircraft by:
(a) Making arrangements satisfactory with the airport manager for the immediate removal of the aircraft from the airport’s hangar, or making arrangements for authorized parking; and
(b) By making payment to Snohomish county of all airport charges or by posting with the airport manager a sufficient cash bond or other security acceptable to the manager, to be held in trust by the manager pending written agreement of the parties with respect to payment by the aircraft owner of the amount owing, or pending resolution of charges in a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction, the trust shall terminate and the airport manager shall receive so much of the bond or other security as is necessary to satisfy any judgment, costs, and interest as may be awarded to the county. The balance shall be refunded immediately to the owner at the owner’s last known address by registered mail, return receipt requested. The airport manager shall send to the owner by first class mail a notice that the balance of funds was forwarded to him or her by registered mail, return receipt requested.
(4) If an aircraft parked or hangared at an airport is abandoned, the airport manager may authorize the public sale of the aircraft by authorized personnel to the highest and best bidder for cash as follows:
(a) If an aircraft has been secured by the airport manager under subsection (1) of this section and is not released to the owner under the bonding provisions of this section within 180 days after notifying the owner under subsection (1) of this section, or in all other cases, for 180 days after Snohomish county secures the aircraft, the aircraft shall be conclusively presumed to have been abandoned by the owner;
(b) Before the aircraft is sold, the owner of the aircraft shall be given at least 20 days’ notice of sale by registered mail, return receipt requested and the notice of sale shall be published at least once, more than 10 but less than 20 days before the sale, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the airport is located. The notice shall include the name of the aircraft, if any, its aircraft identification number, the last known owner and address, the time and place of sale, the amount of airport charges that will be owing at the time of sale, a reasonable description of the aircraft to be sold and that the airport manager may bid all or part of its airport charges at the sale and may become a purchaser at the sale;
(c) The proceeds of a sale under this section shall first be applied to payment of airport charges owed. The balance, if any, shall be deposited with the state department of revenue to be held in trust for the owner or owners and lienholders for a period of one year. If the sale is for a sum less than the applicable airport charges, Snohomish county is entitled to assert a claim against the aircraft owner or owners for the deficiency. (Added by Ord. 88-006 § 25, Feb. 17, 1988; Amended by Ord. 92-132, Nov. 18, 1992).