[Adopted 2-7-1989 as L.L. No. 1-1989; amended in its entirety 6-5-2018 by L.L. No. 6-2018]
A. 
The Town Board finds that significant numbers of vehicle owners fail to respond to parking summonses issued for violations of parking orders, rules, regulations, ordinances and local laws and ignore the Town parking requirements and regulations in a manner that disrupts or interferes with normal Town traffic and parking operations; that a significant number of such owners are persistent violators; and that by reason of out-of-state registration of such vehicles, transfer of ownership and reregistration of such vehicles and other devices, violators frequently are able to evade existing enforcement measures.
B. 
By reason of the foregoing, the Town Board finds that the health, welfare and safety will be served by adoption of a local law providing additional means of enforcing parking orders, rules, regulations, ordinances and local laws in the case of vehicle owners who fail to timely respond to summonses issued for parking violations or who park illegally or improperly in a manner that disrupts or interferes with normal Town traffic and parking operations.
C. 
The Town Board does hereby ordain and enact this Part 3, Article VII, to accomplish the aforesaid purposes.
[Amended 7-11-2023 by L.L. No. 9-2023]
A. 
The Chief of Police hereby is authorized to provide for the immobilization of vehicles under the following circumstances:
(1) 
Where three or more parking summonses have been issued if three or more of such summonses have not been answered within 75 days of the issuance of the third summons.
(2) 
Where the owner or operator has failed to pay civil penalties resulting from violations of this chapter as against the owner of the vehicle or the driver of the vehicle where the vehicle is affiliated, which exceed $500.
(3) 
Where any vehicle is parked for more than 48 hours in violation of any provision of this Chapter 117.
B. 
Such vehicles may be immobilized and left where found, secured by the use of a steel lock or such other immobilization device as may be designated by the Chief of Police.
C. 
Such immobilization shall be at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.
D. 
Any vehicle that has been immobilized and not lawfully released or lawfully removed by the owner of the vehicle for 72 hours from the time of such initial immobilization may be impounded by the Chief of Police, which removal and storage shall be at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.
E. 
In the event that a vehicle is immobilized in a location where it cannot legally remain or imposes a danger to other vehicles or pedestrians, said vehicle may be towed to a location designated by the Town Board or Chief of Police. Police Department personnel may also tow a vehicle that has been immobilized for public safety reasons as well as to protect the immobilized vehicle.
When an immobilization device is used, the Police Department or its agent shall attach to the vehicle, in such form as may be directed by the Chief of Police, a notice containing the following information:
A. 
The location and identifying characteristics of the vehicle.
B. 
The date and time of placement of the device and signature of the installer.
C. 
Notice that further parking restrictions will be waived during the immobilization period for a period of three days from the date of immobilization.
D. 
Notice that any person tampering with the device or the vehicle will be subject to criminal prosecution and liable for any loss to the Town.
E. 
The steps which the owner must take to obtain the release of the vehicle.
F. 
Such other information, statements, notices and warnings as the Chief of Police may from time to time determine to be appropriate.
A. 
Any vehicle immobilized as herein provided shall be promptly released to its owner upon:
(1) 
Payment of the expenses of immobilization, which hereby are found to be $25.
(2) 
An order of the Town Court authorizing such release.
(3) 
The owner furnishing security for appearance in Town Court to answer parking summonses outstanding against such vehicle and the expense of immobilization.
B. 
The amount of such security shall not exceed the total of the maximum fines permitted upon conviction of the offenses charged in outstanding summonses against the vehicle of the vehicle owners' failure to timely answer, plus the expense of immobilization.
C. 
Any police officer on desk duty at the Bedford Police Station shall be authorized to establish a date for the vehicle owners' appearance in Bedford Town Court to answer outstanding parking summonses, to determine the amount of security required and to accept same, together with the expense of immobilization. In determining the amount of such security, consideration shall be given to likelihood of the vehicle owner appearing in Town Court to answer outstanding summonses and the number of outstanding summonses involved. Security payments shall be promptly transmitted to the Town Court.
D. 
While a vehicle is immobilized as herein provided, any parking restrictions of which such vehicle may be in violation, except as provided herein, shall be suspended as they apply to such vehicle for a period of three days from the initial date of immobilization.