The Chief of Police of the Borough is hereby
authorized to remove and impound, or to order the removal and impounding,
of any vehicle parked on any of the streets, highways or public property
in the Borough in violation of any provision of the law or of any
ordinance of the Borough; provided, however, that no such vehicle
shall be removed or impounded except in strict adherence to the provisions
of this article.
[Amended 11-12-1991 by Ord. No. 1125,
approved 11-12-1991]
The Borough Council may select and designate
by resolution approved at a regular or special Council meeting storage
garages as pounds for the storage of impounded vehicles.
[Amended 3-14-2000 by Ord. No. 1213, approved 3-14-2000]
Every such approved storage garage or pound
shall be bonded in the amount of $50,000 for the indemnifying of the
owner of every such impounded vehicle against the loss thereof, or
injury or damage thereto, while in the custody of such poundkeeper.
[Amended 3-14-2000 by Ord. No. 1213, approved 3-14-2000]
The towing charge to be collected by every such
poundkeeper shall be $45. There shall be no charge for the first 24
hours of storage. Thereafter, there shall be a storage charge of $30
every 24 hours after the first 24 hours. There shall be no storage
charge for any days that the storage facility is not open for the
claiming of the towed vehicle.
Within 12 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 Chief
of Police of the Borough 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 Chief of Police shall keep a record of all
vehicles impounded and shall be able at all reasonable times to furnish
the owners or the agents of the owners thereof with information as
to the place of storage of such vehicles.
The payment of towing and storage charges authorized
by this article shall not operate to relieve the owner or operator
of any vehicle from liability for any fine or penalty for 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 article 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.