Police officers are authorized to provide for the removal and impounding of a vehicle under the following circumstances:
(a) When any vehicle is left unattended upon any street, bridge or causeway and is so illegally parked so as to constitute a hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic, or so as to unreasonably interfere with street cleaning or snow removal operations.
(b) When any vehicle or "abandoned junk motor vehicle" as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.63 is left on private property for more than seventy-two consecutive hours without permission of the person having the right to the possession of the property, or on a public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking, or upon or within the right of way of any road or highway, for twenty-four consecutive hours or longer, without notification to the Police Chief of the reasons for leaving such vehicle in such place. Prior to removal of an "abandoned junk motor vehicle" as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.63, it shall be photographed by a law enforcement officer in the place where abandoned.
(c) When any vehicle has been stolen or operated without the consent of the owner.
(d) When any vehicle displays illegal license plates or fails to display the current lawfully required license plates.
(e) When any vehicle has been used in or connected with the commission of a felony.
(f) When any vehicle has been damaged or wrecked so as to be inoperable or violates equipment provisions of this Traffic Code whereby its continued operation would constitute a condition hazardous to life, limb or property.
(g) When any vehicle is left unattended due to the removal of an ill, injured or arrested operator.
(h) When any vehicle has been operated by any person who has failed to stop in case of an accident or collision.
(i) When any vehicle has been operated by any person who is driving without a lawful license or while his license has been suspended or revoked.
(j) When any vehicle is found for which a parking citation has been issued, with two delinquent notices issued, and the owner thereof has failed to respond to such parking citation within a thirty day period.
The vehicle shall be impounded in an area designated and approved by the Chief of the Division of Police. If the vehicle is impounded in a privately owned and operated impounding area, the owner or his agent desiring to redeem such impounded vehicle shall obtain a release from the Division of Police to be presented to the owner or operator of the impounding area who shall be responsible for the collection of any towing or storage charges placed against the vehicle.
If the vehicle is impounded in a municipally owned or operated storage area, the owner or his designated agent shall apply to the Division of Police for a release of the vehicle and if the release is granted, shall first pay to the Division of Police a towing charge of fifteen dollars ($15.00) and in addition a storage charge of three dollars ($3.00) per day for the time such impounded vehicle is in storage. The member of the Division of Police accepting this money shall issue a receipt for such money. This money shall be deposited in the same manner that all other moneys collected by the Division of Police are deposited with the Department of Finance, at specific designated intervals, accompanied by the proper receipt number covering this transaction together with a record as to the source of the funds. A vehicle owner may request a post-deprivational administrative hearing within forty-eight hours after his vehicle was impounded; such hearing to be conducted by the Director of Public Safety.
In addition to any towing and storage charges the person shall be responsible to the court for the payment of any fine or costs assessed for violation of this Traffic Code or State law.
(Ord. 1999-062. Passed 4-13-99.)