(A) Whenever a vehicle is placed in a manner or location that constitutes an obstruction to traffic or a hazard to public safety, an officer of the enforcement authority designated by the City Council shall order the owner or operator of the vehicle to remove it. If the vehicle is unattended, the officer may cause the vehicle to be towed and stored at the owner’s expense. The owner may redeem the vehicle by paying to the city and/or county all costs of towing and storage. The owner shall be liable for the costs of towing and storage, notwithstanding that the vehicle was parked by another or that the vehicle was initially parked in a safe manner but subsequently became an obstruction or hazard.
(B) The impoundment of a vehicle will not preclude the issuance of a citation for violation of a provision of this traffic code.
(C) Stolen vehicles may be towed from public or private property and stored at the expense of the vehicle owner.
(D) (1) Whenever an officer of the enforcement authority designated by the City Council observes a vehicle parked in violation of a provision of this traffic code or state law, if the vehicle has four or more unpaid parking violations outstanding against it, the officer may, in addition to issuing a citation, cause the vehicle to be impounded.
(2) The owner may redeem the vehicle by paying to the city and/or county all costs of towing and storage, amounts due for all unpaid parking citations, unpaid court bail or fines and any other outstanding charges.
(E) After impoundment, the officer of the city responsible for impoundment shall attempt to notify the owner of the impounded vehicle of the vehicle’s impoundment and of the owner’s right of redemption.
(F) Any motor vehicle impounded and not redeemed within 30 days after impoundment may be sold in accordance with applicable provisions relating to the sale of abandoned vehicles.
(Prior Code, § 72.10) (Ord. 402, passed 3-12-2007)