(a) Except as otherwise provided by ordinance or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, the police chief is authorized to sell at public auction any and all automobiles, vehicles and other goods, chattels and personal property that may accumulate, from time to time, as impounded or forfeited property in the custody of the police department.

(b) Unclaimed impounded bicycles may be disposed of by distribution to children of indigent families, any local nonprofit association whose objectives and purposes are the repair and distribution of bicycles to children of indigent families or any orphanage or eleemosynary institution or organization in the metropolitan area for use by children under their care and maintenance. (Code 1979, § 2-30)