(a) Police officers are authorized to provide for the removal of a vehicle under the following circumstances:
(1) 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.
(2) When any vehicle or "abandoned junk motor vehicle" as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.63 is left on private property for more than forty-eight consecutive hours without the 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 forty-eight consecutive hours or longer, without notification to the Police Chief of the reasons for leaving such vehicle in such place. Prior to disposal of an "abandoned junk motor vehicle" as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.63, it shall be photographed by a law enforcement officer.
(3) When any vehicle has been stolen or operated without the consent of the owner and is located upon either public or private property.
(4) When any vehicle displays illegal license plates or fails to display the current lawfully required plates and is located upon any public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking.
(5) When any vehicle, that is located on public or private property, has been used in the commission of a crime and the vehicle is considered as evidence or subject to forfeiture.
(6) 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, and is located upon any public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking.
(7) When any vehicle is left unattended either on public or private property due to the removal of an ill, injured or arrested operator, or due to the abandonment thereof by the operator during or immediately after pursuit by a law enforcement officer.
(8) When any vehicle has been operated by any person who has failed to stop in case of an accident or collision and is located either on public or private property.
(9) 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 and is located upon a public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking.
(10) When any vehicle is found for which two or more citation tags for violations of this Traffic Code have been issued and the owner or operator thereof has failed to respond to such citation tags as lawfully required, and is located upon a public street or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking.
(11) When any vehicle has come into the possession of the police department as a result of the performance of the police department's duties.
(b) The Chief of Police shall designate the place of storage of any motor vehicle removed pursuant to subsections (a)(1) through (11) above. The Police Department shall notify the registered vehicle owner or lienholder of the fact of removal and impound of vehicle along with the place of storage. The notification must state that the vehicle will be declared a nuisance and disposed of if not claimed within 30 days of the date of mailing of the notice.
(c) The registered owner or lienholder desiring to redeem an impounded vehicle shall appear at the Police Department to furnish satisfactory evidence of identity and ownership or right of possession. Upon presentation of satisfactory evidence and payment of all fines due, the Police Department will issue a release form to be presented to the storage facility. The storage facility shall release such vehicle upon receipt of the release form and payment of all towing and storage charges.
(d) If the owner or lienholder makes no claim to the motor vehicle within 30 days of the date of mailing of the notice the provisions of Ohio R.C. 4513.61 and 4513.62 shall apply. (Ord. 2014-12. Passed 5-5-14.)