(A) Whenever the Hammond Code Enforcement Department through court order, or Hammond Police Department orders that a vehicle be towed from any location and that vehicle is later claimed by the owner, the owner shall be required to obtain a vehicle release from the Hammond Police Department prior to retrieving the vehicle from impound storage. The Hammond Police Department shall assess an administrative fee of $75 against the owner of record in exchange for this release. This fee shall be collected in addition and separately to any and all other applicable towing charges, which are collected by the authorized towing service. Any party wishing to remove any items from any towed vehicle must first obtain the vehicle release from the Hammond Police Department.
(B) The Hammond Common Council authorizes the creation of an environmental fee which shall be determined by the Hammond Board of Public Works to cover the environmental costs of towed vehicles.
(C) The Hammond City Controller shall deposit the administrative towing fee created by this section into the Vehicle Release Fund, established by this section, for appropriation and expenditure pursuant to established guidelines.
(Ord. 8574, passed 6-14-2004; Am. Ord. 9274, passed 11-17-2014)