When any police officer finds a vehicle standing upon a street or city-owned parking lot in violation of any parking regulation, the officer is hereby authorized to require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to remove the same to a position in compliance with this chapter. When any police officer finds a vehicle unattended upon any street or city-owned parking lot in violation of any parking regulation, the officer is hereby authorized to impound the unlawfully parked vehicle and to provide for the removal thereof and to remove the same to a convenient garage or other facility or place of safety; provided, that if any charge shall be placed against the vehicle for cost of removal or storage, or both, by anyone called upon to assist therewith the same shall be paid prior to removal from the place of storage or safekeeping.
(`80 Code, § 9.34)