Words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Transportation Article of the Annotated
Code of Maryland, as now in force or as hereafter amended, enacted
or reenacted, except where the context clearly indicates a different
meaning.
It shall be the duty of the Crisfield Police Department to safely
keep any impounded vehicle, until such vehicle shall have been repossessed
by the owner or person legally entitled to possession thereof, or
otherwise disposed of as provided in this chapter. The Crisfield Police
Department shall cause to be kept an accurate record of the description
of such vehicle, including the name of the officer from whom such
a vehicle was received; the officer employed to tow or have delivered
the same to said pound or authorized garage; the (late and time when
received; the place where found, seized or taken possession of; the
make and color of the car and the style or body, kind of power, motor
number, serial number, number of cylinders, year built, state license
number, if any, equipment and a general description of its condition;
the name and address of the person redeeming said vehicle, the date
of redemption and the manner and date of the disposal of said vehicle
in case the same shall not be redeemed; together with the cost of
outstanding summonses and the towing and storage charges.
The Clerk-Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection
of all fines and penalties provided under this chapter. The Clerk-Treasurer
shall furnish to the person paying said fines and penalties a receipt
which shall be presented to the Crisfield Police Department. Upon
presentation of said receipt, the duty officer shall sign a vehicle
release form authorizing the release of the impounded vehicle.
Vehicles impounded pursuant to this chapter shall be released
to their lawful owner (or person entitled to possession) upon a showing
of adequate evidence of a right to its possession and upon the payment
of all accrued fines and costs for each outstanding unpaid parking
citation, or the depositing of the collateral required by his appearance
in the district court for Somerset County, to answer for each violation
for which there is an outstanding or otherwise unsettled parking violation
notice or warrant and, in addition thereto, the charges for towing,
and storage. The release shall be signed by an authorized officer
of the Crisfield Police Department.
Whenever any vehicle so impounded shall remain unclaimed by the owner or other person legally entitled to possession thereof for a period of 45 days from the date a notice to the owner was mailed, in the manner set forth in §
106A-9, it shall be the duty of the Crisfield Police Department to sell such vehicle at a public auction, in accordance with the provisions of Title 25 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
One-half (i.e., 50%) of any and all monies received by the Clerk-Treasurer in the collection of any lines and penalties for the towing and impoundment of any vehicle under this chapter, as set forth in §
106A-5(D) of this chapter, shall be appropriated and allocated to the Crisfield Police Department - General Fund for the annual fiscal year budget of the City of Crisfield.
The City Council is authorized to adopt, by resolution, such
rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions
of this chapter.