(a) Immobilization. Any unattended motor vehicle found parked at any time upon any public thoroughfare of the City against which there are ten (10) or more unpaid citations or where the total unpaid citations exceeds two hundred dollars ($200.00) or other process charging that such vehicle was parked, stopped or standing in violation of any law, ordinance or local authority of the City, and which citations contain notices that the vehicle may be towed or immobilized for nonpayment of the fine, may be immobilized in such manner as to prevent its operation by a member of the Police Department or any other person or persons designated by the City. No such vehicle shall be immobilized by any means other than by the use of a device or other mechanism which will cause no damage to such vehicle unless it is moved while such device or mechanism is in place.
(b) Notice of Immobilization. Any case involving immobilization of a vehicle pursuant to this article, the member of the Police Department or the person or persons designated by the City immobilizing the vehicle, shall cause to be placed on such vehicle, in a conspicuous manner, notice sufficient to warn any individual to the effect that such vehicle has been immobilized for failure to pay the ten (10) or more citations or where the total unpaid citations exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00) or other process, and that any attempt to move such vehicle might result in damage to such vehicle.
(c) Release of Vehicle. Vehicles immobilized pursuant to this article shall be released to their lawful owner, or person entitled to possession, upon showing adequate evidence of a right to its possession and paying, in full all accrued fines and costs for each outstanding unpaid citation and a “boot” fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00); or by requesting, in writing, a hearing before the Police Court to contest the validity of the immobilization. Such request for a hearing shall be accompanied by a bond to cover the potential fines for the criminal charges which caused the immobilization. In lieu of full payment of past due fines to allow removal of “boot”, if individual executes a payment agreement with the Finance Department for the full amount of unpaid fines plus the boot fee, the boot will be removed. The unpaid fines included in the agreement must be paid within three (3) months - 90 days and the individual must sign an affidavit that no additional violations will occur. If individual fails to pay as promised, the vehicle will be subject to immediate immobilization.
(Ord. 07-20. Passed 11-1-07.)