Any vehicle parked or abandoned on any street
or highway within this village during a snowstorm, flood, fire or
other public emergency or found unattended on any street or highway
where said vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic or found
unattended on any such street or highway where stopping, standing
or parking of vehicles is prohibited may be removed by any employee
or agent of the village duly designated by the Mayor or Clerk. Such
removal by the village shall be done without incurring any liability
for damages to the vehicle, provided that reasonable care has been
taken in its removal.
After such removal of any vehicle as provided
in this Article, such vehicle may be stored at a place designated
by the Mayor or Clerk, to be there held until the owner or operator
of such vehicle shall call for and remove the same.
[Amended 12-1-1997 by L.L. No. 6-1997]
Prior to such removal from such storage, the
owner or operator of such vehicle shall pay to the Clerk the amount
of all reasonable charges and expenses actually and necessarily incurred
in such removal from such street or highway, not to exceed such sum
as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Board of Trustees, per day or fraction thereof. Proof of payment by the village
of removal charges or storage charges at rates not exceeding those
herein prescribed shall be deemed prima facie proof of the reasonableness
of such charges.
The Clerk, without delay, shall report to the
Mayor and the Board of Trustees the removal and disposition of any
vehicle as provided in this Article and also shall notify the owner
or operator of any such vehicle so removed, if the name of such owner
or operator can be ascertained, of the removal and disposition of
any such vehicle and of the amount required to be paid before the
same may be removed from storage.