The Mayor of the Borough of Walnutport or his agent is hereby authorized to remove and impound, or to order the removal and impounding of, any vehicle parked upon any street, alley, highway or public property in the Borough of Walnutport in violation of any provision of the law or of any ordinance of the Borough of Walnutport. Provided: no vehicle shall be removed or impounded except in strict conformity to the provisions of this article.
The Borough Council shall have authority to designate, from time to time, one or more garages as approved storage garages, to serve as a pound for the storage of such impounded vehicles.
Every such approved storage garage shall have authority to charge the owner of record to every such impounded vehicle the towing and the storage charges that shall be fixed and approved by resolution of the Borough Council.
Every such approved storage garage shall furnish a bond in an adequate amount as shall be fixed by the Borough Council, for the indemnifying of the owner of any such impounded vehicle against the loss thereof, or injury or damage thereto, while in the custody of such poundkeeper.
Within 24 hours from the time of removal of any vehicle under authority granted by this article, notice of the fact that such vehicle has been impounded shall be sent by the Police Department to the owner of record of such vehicle. Such notice shall designate the place from which such vehicle was removed, the reason for its removal and impounding, and the pound in which it shall have been impounded.
The payment of any towing and impounding charges, authorized by this article, shall, unless such payment shall have been made under protest, be final and conclusive, and shall constitute a waiver of any right to recover the money so paid.
In the event that any towing and impounding charges, authorized by this article, shall be paid under protest, the offender shall be entitled to a hearing before a Magisterial District Judge or court of record having jurisdiction, in which case the defendant shall be proceeded against and shall receive such notice as is provided by the Vehicle Code in other cases of summary offenses, and shall have the same rights as to appeal and waiver of hearing.
The Police Department shall keep a record of all vehicles impounded and shall be able at all reasonable times to furnish the owners or agents of the owners thereof with information as to the place of storage of such vehicles.
The payment of towing and storage charges shall not operate to relieve the owner or operator of any vehicle from liability for any fine or penalty for the violation of any law or ordinance on account of which such vehicle was removed and impounded.
No vehicle shall be removed under the authority of this chapter if, at the time of the intended removal thereof, the owner or person for the time being in charge of such vehicle is present and expresses a willingness and intention to remove such vehicle immediately.