The hearing officer shall conduct the hearing in an informal
manner and shall not be bound by the technical rules of evidence.
The person demanding the hearing shall carry the burden of establishing
that such person has the right to possession of the vehicle. The Police
Department shall carry the burden of establishing that there was probable
cause to impound the vehicle in question. At the conclusion of the
hearing, the hearing officer shall prepare a written decision. A copy
of such decision shall be provided to the person demanding the hearing
and the registered owner of the vehicle (if not the person requesting
the hearing). The hearing officer’s decision in no way affects
any criminal proceeding in connection with the impounding in question
and any criminal charges involved in such proceeding may only be challenged
in the appropriate court. The decision of the hearing officer is final.
Failure of the registered or legal owner or his agent to request or
attend a scheduled post-seizure hearing shall be deemed a waiver of
the right to such hearing.
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