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A. Whenever an officer removes a vehicle from the street and the officer knows or is able to ascertain from the registration records in the vehicle the name and address of the vehicle owner, the officer shall immediately give or cause to be given notice telephonically, in person or in writing to the owner of the fact of the removal and the reasons for it, and of the place where vehicle has been taken.
B. Whenever an officer removes a vehicle from the street and does not know and is not able to ascertain the name of the owner, or for any other reason is unable to give the notice to the owner as provided in subsection A of this section, and the vehicle is not claimed by the owner within a period of three days, the officer shall send or cause to be sent a written report of the removal by mail to the Motor Vehicle Division of the State Department of Transportation and shall file a copy of the notice with the proprietor of the public garage in which the vehicle is stored, in accordance with the police department’s rules and regulations. The notice shall include a complete description of the vehicle, the date, time and place from which removed, the reasons for the removal, and the name of the garage or place where the vehicle is stored.
A. Unless the vehicle is being held for forfeiture proceedings or unless the vehicle is being held as evidence in a pending criminal case, the police department shall allow the return to the owner of the impounded vehicle when the owner has furnished evidence of identity and ownership and signed a receipt. The owner shall be required to pay any towing and storage fees which have accrued. Payment of any towing and storage fees shall not release the owner or driver of the vehicle of any other penalty which may be imposed for any violation of town ordinances, this code, state or federal laws.
B. If forfeiture proceedings are initiated and later discontinued, the vehicle will be released to the vehicle owner upon payment of the towing and storage fees as set forth in subsection A of this section.
C. If a vehicle is being held as evidence in a pending criminal case, at the final conclusion of that criminal case (together with the conclusion of all available appeals) the vehicle shall be returned to the owner of the vehicle, subject to the payment of all towing and storage fees as set forth in subsection A of this section.
Ordinance 2009.11 amended section 12-5-3(A) by adding reference to the comprehensive fee schedule and deleting specific storage fee amounts for impounded vehicles. Ordinance 2019.008 amended paragraph A by deleting a sentence about vehicle storage on town property.
If an impounded vehicle is not redeemed by its owner or agent within thirty days after it is subject to be released, it shall be sold for the charges and costs set forth section 12-5-3A, in the manner provided by A.R.S. § 28-1401 et seq. This remedy is cumulative of all other penalties provided by this chapter.