[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
The impoundment of vehicles under authority of the provisions
of this chapter shall be construed as an enforcement procedure for
protection of the public peace, safety and welfare, and the safeguarding
of property, and shall be used generally for the prevention and removal
of traffic hazards, prevention and abatement of public nuisances arising
from traffic law violations, protection of the public rights in the
use of streets and thoroughfares from obstructions placed and left
in derogation of those rights, and for safeguarding and protecting
recovered stolen vehicles.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
Every vehicle that is impounded under the provisions of this
chapter shall be removed to the nearest garage or place of safekeeping
designated by the City Council, and to no other place.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
A.
Except as otherwise provided, any vehicle impounded under the authority
of this chapter shall be stored and held safely until an order for
its release is received from an officer of the Traffic Violations
Bureau or other proper police officer.
B.
The order of release of an impounded vehicle shall be conditioned
upon the payment by the person to whom the release is issued of all
impoundment costs and accrued storage charges assessed against the
vehicle.
C.
No order of release of an impounded vehicle shall be issued until
all fines and costs due the City because of traffic law or other law
violations involving the vehicle have been paid.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
Members of the Police Department are hereby authorized within
the limits set forth in this chapter to impound vehicles under the
circumstances hereinafter enumerated. No impoundment shall be valid
unless made under order of an authorized police officer and in strict
adherence with the procedures required in this chapter.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
A.
A disabled vehicle upon a street or highway may be impounded under
the following circumstances:
1.
If left unattended and improperly parked on street or highway and
constitutes a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement
of traffic; or
2.
If the person in charge of the vehicle is physically incapacitated
to such extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal
and the vehicle is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to
traffic or a hazard.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
An unattended vehicle left upon any bridge, viaduct or causeway
or in any tube or tunnel, where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction
to traffic or hazard, may be impounded.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20; amended by Ord.
733, 10-2-1989]
When the driver or person in charge of any vehicle is placed
under arrest and taken into custody and detained by police under circumstances
which leaves or will leave a vehicle unattended, on any public or
private property, the vehicle may be impounded consistent with the
laws of the State and of the United States pursuant to policies and
procedures of the City Police Department.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
A vehicle left unattended upon any street, alley or thoroughfare
and so parked illegally as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction
to the normal movement of traffic shall be impounded.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
A.
An unattended vehicle found to be in violation of this Code may be
impounded when the required complaint has been properly made and filed
as provided in this Section.
B.
If a violation of the provisions of this Code occurs, the owner or
legal occupant who complains shall sign a complaint against the person
parking the vehicle on the owner's or legal occupant's property,
or if the identity of the person parking the vehicle is unknown, then
the complaint may be filed against the registered owner of the vehicle.
The complaint shall be verified and shall allege that the complaining
party is the owner or legal occupant of the property upon which the
vehicle is parked or standing.
C.
Upon filing of the complaint by the property owner or legal occupant,
and if there appears to be proper cause to believe the provisions
of this Code have been violated, the Police Department shall cause
the vehicle to be impounded from the property and placed in storage.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
Any unattended vehicle which has been parked for more than one
hour in excess of the time allowed for parking in any place shall
be impounded.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
Any vehicle illegally parked in such a manner that it blocks
a fire escape ladder, device or exit or blocks ready access to a fire
hydrant shall be impounded.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
Any unattended vehicle illegally parked in any street intersection
shall be impounded. A disabled vehicle in an intersection with the
person in charge of the vehicle being present, shall be moved out
of the intersection and to the nearest available legal parking space
at the street curbing.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
A.
Whenever a stolen vehicle is located by police and the registered
owner cannot be found within a reasonable time not exceeding one hour,
or cannot be determined from the registration papers or other identifying
media in the vehicle or from records or information available from
reports of stolen cars, the vehicle may be removed to the nearest
authorized place to impoundment and the registered owner of the vehicle
shall be notified of the location of the place of impoundment as soon
as possible by the Police Department.
B.
If the registered owner is identified, located and notified of the
recovery of the stolen vehicle, the owner shall be given the right
to make his own arrangement for the removal of the vehicle within
the period of one hour from the time he is actually notified of its
recovery, and if the owner is unable or unwilling to effect the removal
within the time specified the vehicle may be impounded.
[Prior Code, Chapter 20]
Any vehicle for which a citation has been issued, pursuant to
this Code for violation of an ordinance, and has not been presented
as required, may be impounded if parked in violation of any provision
of this Part.
