[CC 1984 §24-80; Rev. M.C. 1963 §51.73; Ord. No. 3005 §1, 3-15-1971; Ord. No. 3140 §24-36; Ord.
No. 3686 §1, 11-3-1980; Ord. No. 3766 §1, 12-7-1981; Ord. No. 4545 §2, 6-6-1994]
A.
Whenever
any vehicle, trailer or boat shall be found parked in a place where
parking is not permitted or for more than the time allowed to be parked,
in addition to the giving of any notice and imposition of any fine
for parking violations provided in this Vehicles and Traffic Code,
such vehicle, trailer or boat may be removed and conveyed by towing
or otherwise by or under the immediate direction of an officer of
the Police Department to the Police station or to such other place
as may be designated by the Chief of Police, or may be immobilized
at the location where it is parked by or under the immediate direction
of an officer of the Police Department.
B.
Whenever
any vehicle, trailer or boat shall be found parked for which there
are three (3) or more outstanding prior parking ordinance violations
under the Vehicles and Traffic Code of the City of Richmond Heights
for which the legally imposed fines, fees and penalties have not been
paid within the time permitted for their payment under the Vehicles
and Traffic Code, such vehicle, trailer or boat may be removed and
conveyed by towing or otherwise by or under the immediate direction
of an officer of the Police Department to the Police station or to
such other place as may be designated by the Chief of Police, or may
be immobilized at the location where it is parked by or under the
immediate direction of an officer of the Police Department.
C.
The Police Officer on whose orders such removal or immobilization is effected shall immediately report to the watch commander or officer in charge at the time the State registration number of the vehicle, trailer or boat, or a description thereof if there is no such number, and a statement as to the place from which and to which such vehicle, trailer or boat is removed, or where it is immobilized. Upon the towing, impounding, removal or immobilization of any vehicle, the Police Department shall make an inquiry of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and any Statewide Missouri law enforcement computer system to determine if the vehicle has been reported as stolen and shall submit a report to the Director of Revenue of the State of Missouri within five (5) working days of the towing of the vehicle, providing information on such vehicle as may be required by State law. Notice shall be given in writing to the owner, if known, of any vehicle, trailer or boat removed from the place it was parked, informing such owner of the removal, the location to which the vehicle, trailer or boat was removed, the charges to be imposed for removal and storage pursuant to this Section 305.100, the lien of the person removing and storing the vehicle, trailer or boat for such charges pursuant to Section 430.082, RSMo., and the right of such person to obtain a certificate of title if such removal and storage charges are not paid.
D.
Before
the owner or person in charge of the vehicle, trailer or boat shall
remove it from the custody of the Police Department, or the Police
Department shall remove the device or means by which it has been immobilized,
such owner or person shall furnish evidence of his/her identity, proof
of ownership or control, and shall sign a receipt for the vehicle.
Such owner or person shall directly pay the City's designated towing
agent's charges for the towing, storage or immobilization to such
agent. If the City has already advanced payment to such towing agent,
such owner or person shall reimburse the City for the amount paid
to the towing agent by paying such amount to the Police Department,
which the Police Department shall then pay into the City Treasury,
to cover the costs of removal and storage or immobilization of the
vehicle, trailer or boat, in addition to making payment to the Violations
Bureau of any fines, fees or penalties required to be paid to the
Violations Bureau in connection with the violations for which the
vehicle, trailer or boat has been removed or immobilized and any prior
outstanding parking fines, fees or penalties for violations of the
traffic and parking ordinances of the Vehicles and Traffic Code of
the City of Richmond Heights for which such person is responsible.
E.
Neither the Police Department or officer nor any person under their direction removing, conveying, towing, impounding, storing or immobilizing a vehicle, trailer or boat under this Section 305.100 shall be liable for any damage thereto which may be incurred in connection with such removal, conveyance, towing, impounding or immobilization, other than damages occasioned by gross negligence or willful or wanton acts or omissions.
[CC 1984 §24-81; Rev. M.C. 1963 §51.74; Ord. No. 3140 §24-37]
When any impounded vehicle held by the City shall have been
unclaimed for a period of sixty (60) days, the vehicle shall be deemed
abandoned and unclaimed. Any abandoned or unclaimed vehicle held by
the City for a period of sixty (60) days may be sold by the City to
satisfy all storage and other charges.
