As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED
As defined and set forth in § 1224 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York.
STREET
Includes any alley, lane, highway or other way publicly maintained for vehicular traffic.
No person shall abandon a vehicle or any part of a vehicle on any street or public place within the City of Saratoga Springs. No person shall store a vehicle or any part of a vehicle on any street or public place within the City of Saratoga Springs. For purposes of this article, a vehicle or part thereof shall be deemed stored when it has been left unattended on any street or public place for more than 96 hours. If any vehicle or part thereof is so found, it may be removed by the Police Department.
Pursuant to the authority of § 1224 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, the City of Saratoga Springs is hereby authorized to convert abandoned vehicles to its own use as provided in said § 1224 and to do any lawful and proper act necessary to carry out such authority.
No vehicle shall be parked, left unattended or abandoned on any street within the City of Saratoga Springs where stopping, standing or parking is prohibited. If any vehicle is so found, it may be removed by the City Police Department.
No vehicle shall be parked, left unattended or abandoned on any street within the City of Saratoga Springs during a snowstorm, snow-removal operations, flood, fire or other public emergency in such a manner that it creates a hazard or obstruction to traffic. If any vehicle is so found, it may be removed by the City Police Department.
A. 
All streets in the City of Saratoga Springs, except those streets posted for alternate side parking, are hereby designated and declared to be emergency snow routes for the purpose of this section. Whenever the Commissioner of Public Works finds, on the basis of observation or on the basis of weather service forecasts, that weather conditions will make it necessary that motor vehicle traffic be expedited and that parking on City streets be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes, he shall have the authority to put into effect a parking prohibition on all emergency snow routes. The Commissioner of Public Works shall publicly announce his declaration of a parking prohibition in a reasonable manner whenever feasible. While such a parking prohibition is in effect, no persons shall park or stand or allow to remain parked or standing any vehicle on any portion of an emergency snow route for any period of time in excess of 12 hours.
B. 
All those streets posted for alternate side parking will be strictly enforced as posted.
C. 
The Commissioner of Public Works shall have the authority to post streets, including those designated for alternate parking, to prohibit parking, for snow removal purposes. Signs will be placed between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day prior to the commencement of the snow removal. Snow removal will commence at approximately 4:00 a.m. the day after the posting.
D. 
All vehicles parked on City streets shall be moved within 12 hours after the abatement of any snow storm which results in an accumulation of three inches or more of snow or ice, whether or not a snow emergency has been declared by the Commissioner of Public Works. The Department of Public Works shall notify the Police Department when such twelve-hour period has commenced.
E. 
When any vehicle is parked upon any street in violation of any of the provisions of this article and after the Police Department has made a reasonable attempt to give notice to the owner or other person in charge of said vehicle, said vehicle may be ticketed and removed, without further notice, by any police officer.
F. 
After removal of any vehicle as provided in this section, it shall be the duty of the Police Department to ascertain to the extent possible the owner of the vehicle or person having charge of same and notify said person of the removal and disposition of such vehicle.
No vehicle shall be parked, left unattended or abandoned on any street in the City of Saratoga Springs in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to traffic. If any vehicle is so found, it may be removed by the City Police Department.
[Amended 11-16-2004; 11-18-2008]
A. 
Any vehicles removed pursuant to this article may be stored by the City Police Department or by such person or towing services as may be engaged by the City by contractual agreement for such purpose. The contract shall include a hold-harmless agreement, in a form satisfactory to the City, by which the person or towing service shall indemnify and save harmless the City and its agents and employees from and against all claims, damages, loss and expense (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees) arising out of or resulting from the contract activity, sustained by any person or persons, provided that any such claims, damage, loss or expense is attributable to bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, or to injury to or destruction of property caused by the tortuous act or negligent act or omission of the person or towing service, or by the person’s or towing service’s employees, agents or subcontractors. Any such vehicle shall be stored in a suitable place at the expense of the owner or operator. Such owner or operator may redeem the vehicle upon proof of expenses and storage fees incurred. Such expenses and fees shall not exceed any maximum amount or amounts established pursuant to contract between the City and the persons or towing services so authorized, except that the City shall have authority to establish a surcharge, payable to the City, for each vehicle towed by an authorized towing service.
[Amended 4-4-2017]
B. 
Said contract shall name the City as an additional insured on a primary and noncontributory basis in an amount or amounts as may be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council. The required insurance shall be provided by insurance carriers licensed and admitted to do business in the State of New York and must be rated “A-: VII” or better by A.M. Best (Current Rate Guide).
[Amended 4-4-2017]
C. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, regarding hold-harmless agreements, was repealed 4-4-2017. See now Subsection A.
D. 
For purposes of this section, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall have the authority to establish a rotation list or other fair and equitable selection method to establish the order of calling authorized persons or towing services to the scene of traffic accidents or for the removal of illegally parked or abandoned vehicles. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall also have the authority to establish standards, rules and regulations, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, for persons or towing services who participate in such rotation list or other selection method.
This article shall not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle.