[Amended 7-12-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
A. 
The Police Department shall have the power and authority to provide for the removal, immobilization and storage of vehicles parked or abandoned on any highway or public parking lot in violation of any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation, or during any flood, fire or other public emergency and vehicles for which there are outstanding traffic warrants or fines for parking violations.
B. 
Such vehicles may be removed, immobilized and stored by or under the direction of a member of the Police Department by means of towing or other means of removal, securing by use of a wheel lock or other immobilization device, and storage at a public or private impound lot as designated by the Police Department.
C. 
Such removal, immobilization and storage shall be at the expense and risk of the owner of the vehicle.
A. 
When an immobilization device is used, the Police Department or its agents shall attach to the vehicle, in such form as directed by the Chief of Police, a notice containing the following information:
(1) 
The location and identifying characteristics of the vehicle;
(2) 
Date and time of placement of the device and signature of the installer;
(3) 
Notice that further parking restrictions will be waived during the immobilization period.
(4) 
Notice that any person tampering with the device or the vehicle will be subject to prosecution and liable for any loss to the Village.
(5) 
The steps which the owner must take to obtain release of the vehicle.
(6) 
Such other information, statements, notices and warnings as the Chief of Police shall from time to time determine.
B. 
When a removal of a vehicle has occurred by a tow service, it shall be the duty of the Chatham Police Department to ascertain to the extent possible the owner of the vehicle or the person having the same in charge and to notify him of the removal and disposition of such vehicle. The Police Department shall also without delay report the removal and disposition of any vehicle removed as provided in this article to the Village Clerk, and an entry shall be made into the New York State Police Information Network (NYSPIN).
Any attempt by any person to tamper with, deface, remove or destroy an immobilization device or to move by any means a vehicle towed or secured as herein provided may result in the prosecution of such person for an offense separate from and in addition to the parking violations; in addition, such person shall be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the Village due to any such attempt.
A. 
Any vehicle removed, immobilized or stored as herein provided shall be promptly released to its owner upon the payment of outstanding parking fines, the satisfaction of outstanding traffic warrants, administrative costs authorized herein, cost of the towing of said vehicle, and any vehicle storage charges.
B. 
While a vehicle is immobilized as herein provided, parking restrictions to which such vehicle may be subject shall be suspended during such immobilization period.
C. 
An administrative surcharge of $20 is hereby imposed to offset the costs of maintenance, placement, and removal of the immobilization device; said surcharge to be paid prior to the release of an immobilized vehicle set forth in Subsection A.
It any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of the article and the application of such article to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
This article shall supersede any and all of the provisions of ordinances, rules, or regulations previously enacted or promulgated which are inconsistent with the provisions of this article.