(A) Inventories of impounded vehicles will be conducted according to the following procedure:
(1) An inventory of personal property and the contents of open containers will be conducted throughout the passenger and engine compartments of the vehicle including, but not limited to, glove compartments, other accessible areas under or within the dashboard area, in any pockets in the doors or in the back of the front seat, in any console between the seats, under any floor mats and under the seats.
(2) In addition to the passenger and engine compartments as described above, an inventory of personal property and the contents of open containers will also be conducted in the following locations:
(a) Any other type of unlocked compartments that are a part of the vehicle including, but not limited to, unlocked glove compartments, unlocked vehicle trunks and unlocked car-top containers; and
(b) Any locked compartments including, but not limited to, locked glove compartments, locked vehicle trunks, locked hatchbacks and locked car top containers, provided the keys are available and are to be released with the vehicle to the third-party towing company or an unlocking mechanism for such compartment is available within the vehicle.
(3) Closed containers located either within the vehicle or any vehicle compartments will not be opened for inventory purposes except for the following, which shall be opened for inventory: wallets, purses, coin purses, fanny packs, personal organizers, briefcases or other closed containers designed for carrying money or small valuables, or closed containers which are designed for hazardous materials.
(4) Other closed containers shall be opened and inventoried if the owner acknowledges they contain cash in excess of $10, valuables or hazardous materials.
(5) Any valuables, to include cash in excess of $10 or property valued at more than $200, located during the inventory process will be listed on a property receipt and stored in this agency's property/evidence room. A copy of the property receipt will either be left in the vehicle or tendered to the person in control of the vehicle if such person is present.
(6) The inventory is not a search for evidence of a crime; however, officers shall seize evidence or contraband located during the inventory. Items should be scrutinized to the extent necessary to complete the inventory.
(7) Tow truck operators are to receive a copy of the tow report.
(B) These inventory procedures are for the purpose of protecting an owner's property while in police custody, to provide for the safety of officers, and to protect the city against fraudulent claims of lost, stolen, or damaged property.
(Prior Code, § 5.100) (Ord. 1995-12, passed 10-9-1995; Ord. 2009-09, passed 7-13-2009; Ord. 2017-09, passed 9-25-2017)