The Police Department is hereby authorized to remove or cause
the removal of any vehicle under any of the following circumstances:
A.
When any vehicle is parked or abandoned on any highway within this
City during a snowstorm, flood, fire or other public emergency which
affects that portion of the public highway upon which said vehicle
is parked or abandoned;
B.
When any vehicle is found unattended on any highway within this City
where said vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic;
C.
When any vehicle is parked or abandoned on any highway within this
City where stopping, standing or parking is prohibited;
D.
When any vehicle upon a highway is so disabled and situated as to
constitute an obstruction to traffic, and the person(s) in charge
of the vehicle are by reason of physical injury incapacitated to such
an extent as to be unable to provide for its removal.
[Amended 3-14-1978 by Ord. No. 1978-1]
A.
After removal of any vehicle as provided in this article, the Police
Department may store such vehicle in a suitable place at the expense
of the owner. Such owner, or person in charge of the vehicle, may
redeem the same upon payment to the owner or person in charge of the
suitable place of storage the amount of all expenses actually and
necessarily incurred in effecting such removal, such removal charges
not to exceed the charges as set by the Common Council, together with
any charge for storage as set by the Common Council.
[Amended 4-2-2002; 1-21-2003 by Res. No. 14-2003; 9-2-2008 by Res. No.
99-2008]
B.
In cases where added equipment and extended time is involved (extenuating
circumstances, i.e., use of dollies, overturned vehicles in roadway,
in ditches, etc.), reasonable additional charges may be made.
C.
Registry
of towing companies willing to remove vehicles by order of the City.
[Added 9-2-2008 by Res. No. 99-2008]
(1)
Any
towing company which is interested in participating in the program
noted above must register with the Police Department and submit an
annual registration fee of $100. Said registration shall expire one
full year after the date of registration. In addition to the fee of
$100, the company must name the City of Cortland as an additional
insured under its business liability insurance coverage, with coverage
in an amount which meets the City’s standard insurance requirements.
(2)
It
is further understood that the Police Department will monitor the
performance of the companies participating in the program to ascertain
whether there is appropriate response time to calls and a minimal
number of complaints generated. In the event it is determined that
the performance of a company is not adequate, the Police Chief (or
their designee) may remove said company from the program. In the event
the company wishes to appeal said removal from the program, it may
do so by requesting an administrative hearing before an appeal board
comprised of the Deputy Police Chief, the Director of Administration
and Finance, and one Councilperson to be appointed by the Mayor. The
decision of the appeal board shall be final.
D.
Impoundment on City property; storage fee. The City of Cortland Police Department is authorized to impound vehicles on City-owned property and assess a daily storage fee of $40 directly to the car owner as provided for in § 11-82 in the Code of the City of Cortland.
[Added 9-21-2010 by Res. No. 197-2010]
The Police Department shall without undue delay ascertain to
the extent possible the owner of the vehicle or person having charge
of the same and notify them of the removal and disposition of such
vehicle and of the maximum amount which will be required to redeem
same.
