(A) Any police officer may impound and cause to be towed any motor vehicle which falls within any of the following categories.
(1) Stolen.
(2) Parked in violation of law.
(3) Involved in an accident.
(4) Declared delinquent because of two or more outstanding traffic citations which have not been paid or registered for court in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Ordinances.
(5) Does not display currently valid license plates.
(6) Parked so as to block ingress or egress to a street, alley, roadway, driveway, parking facility, or loading facility.
(7) In the possession of a physically arrested person.
(8) Driven by a person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or a combination thereof.
(9) The person in possession of the motor vehicle requests it to be impounded for safekeeping.
(B) A motor vehicle which is subject to impoundment under divisions (A)(7) and (8) above shall not be impounded if title or right to possession of the motor vehicle can be readily established at the location where the motor vehicle, the person in possession of the motor vehicle, or the person to whom possession of the motor vehicle is to be given, and if the motor vehicle can be safely and legally parked at its location; or the driver is able to arrange for someone to take care of the motor vehicle after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so. However, the driver may request that the motor vehicle be impounded for safekeeping after being advised of his driver's rights under this division (B).
(C) A motor vehicle shall not be declared delinquent until written notice of at least two outstanding traffic citations have been given to the registered owner of the motor vehicle against which the traffic citations were issued. Notice, when practicable, shall be given by regular U.S. mail sent to the last known address of the registered owner. Notice by regular U.S. mail shall be deemed delivered unless the notice is returned as undeliverable within ten days of mailing. Where notice by mail is not practicable, written notice of possible impoundment placed on the motor vehicle at the time of citation shall be deemed to be sufficient notice. The written notice sent by regular U.S. mail shall include the following.
(1) Identity of the outstanding traffic citations.
(2) How information regarding the outstanding traffic citations can be obtained.
(3) Persons to whom evidence of prior disposition of the outstanding traffic citations may be submitted.
(4) A warning that failure to pay the traffic citations or to register the traffic citations for an appeal may subject the motor vehicle to impoundment.
(D) Any motor vehicle impounded as delinquent shall be released upon proof of payment or registration of the outstanding traffic citations for court, and payment of the accumulated impounding and storage fees.
(Ord. 1986-17, passed 6-4-86; Am. Ord. 2006-8, passed 8-14-06)