Any police officer may remove a vehicle from
a street to a garage or other place of safety when the vehicle is
left unattended and constitutes an obstruction to traffic or hinders
snow removal or street improvement or maintenance operations. If the
vehicle was legally parked, such vehicle shall be released to the
owner of the vehicle. If the vehicle was parked in violation of this
section or any other parking regulation, such vehicle shall not be
released until the fees for towing and storage are paid in addition
to any fine imposed for the parking violation.
Any person who violates this article shall be
guilty of a petty misdemeanor.