§ 15-231. Authority to impound vehicles.

(a)

Members of the police department are hereby authorized to remove a vehicle from the street or highway to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by the police department, or other maintained by this city under the circumstances hereinafter enumerated.

(1)

When any vehicle is left unattended upon any bridge, viaduct, or causeway, or in any tube or tunnel where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic;

(2)

When a vehicle upon a highway is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and the person or persons in charge of the vehicle are by reason of physical injury incapacitated to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal;

(3)

When any vehicle is left unattended upon a street and is so parked illegally as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic.

(4)

All vehicles left in one (1) place in a street or alley for thirty-six (36) hours.

(5)

When any vehicle is left unattended in a properly designated fire lane or fire zone which is marked by signs designating same fire lane or fire zone.

(b)

Whenever an officer removes a vehicle from a street as authorized in this section and the officer knows, or is able to ascertain, the owner thereof, such officer shall immediately give or cause to be given notice in writing to such owner of the fact of such removal and the reason therefor and of the place to which such vehicle has been removed. If any such vehicle is stored in a public garage, a copy of such notice shall be given to the proprietor of such garage.

(c)

Whenever an officer removes a vehicle from a street under this section and does not know and is not able to ascertain the name of the owner, or any other person is unable to give the notice to the owners hereinbefore provided, and if the vehicle is not returned to the owner within a period of three (3) days, then in that event, the officer shall immediately send or cause to be sent a written report of such removal by mail to the department of the state whose duty it is to register motor vehicles, and shall file a copy of such notice with the proprietor of any public garage in which the vehicle may be stored. Such notice shall include a complete description of the vehicle, time, and the place from which removed, the reason for such removal and the name of the garage or place where the vehicle is stored.

(Ord. No. 7715, § 122, 8-4-77)