(A) Storage of impounded vehicle. Except as otherwise provided, any vehicle impounded under the authority of this chapter shall be stored and held safely until an order for its release is received from an officer of the traffic violations bureau or other proper police officer.
(B) Order of release.
(1) The order of release of an impounded vehicle shall be conditioned upon the payment by the person to whom the release is issued of all impoundment costs and accrued storage charges assessed against the vehicle.
(2) No order of release of an impounded vehicle shall be issued until all fines and costs due the city because of traffic law or other law violations involving the vehicle have been paid.
(C) Redemption.
(1) Impound fee. Any vehicle impounded under the authority of this section shall be stored and held until a written order for its release, signed by an authorized officer of the city, has been issued. Such order of release shall be conditioned upon the payment to the city by the person to whom the release is issued of an impound fee in the amount of $100. The impoundment fee is predicated upon an arrest and shall not apply to a lienholder of record, or accident owner.
(2) Impound fees account. There is hereby created within the Police Fund a special fund into which all impound fees shall be deposited; expenditures out of which shall be used only to pay for police equipment.
(3) Waiver. The Chief of Police has the discretion to waive technical title requirements if he or she reasonably believes that the person seeking release either has authority from the owner or is in fact the equitable owner notwithstanding legal title.
(Prior Code, § 6-11-3) (Ord. 857, passed 9-10-2017)