When any sunken or drifting, and unattended vessel(s) or object(s) obstruct, or create a hazard to the operation of vessels on the waters of Lakewood, the City’s chief law enforcement officer or designee shall order the owner or person in charge thereof to remove or restrain the said vessel or object. Upon failure of such person to do so, or inability of the chief law enforcement officer or designee to determine the ownership of the vessel or object, the chief law enforcement officer or designee may take custody of the vessel or object and may take such reasonable steps as are needed to clear the waters of the obstruction or hazard. Expenses reasonably incurred by the chief law enforcement officer or designee in removing and relocating a vessel or other object shall be recovered from the owner thereof, as a condition precedent to restoring the vessel or object to the owner. [Ord. 86 § 1, 1996.]