(a) Authority to Impound Vehicles. Members of the Police Division are hereby authorized to remove a vehicle by towing or otherwise from a street or highway to a commercial garage or lot as designated by the Director of Public Safety under the following circumstances:
(1) When any vehicle is left unattended upon any bridge, viaduct or causeway, or in any tube, tunnel or underpass and is so illegally parked as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic, or unreasonably interferes with snow removal operations during a snow emergency.
(2) When any vehicle is left unattended upon any street, right-of-way or upon any public or private property and there is an immediate emergency, hazard or threat to property or public safety.
(3) When any vehicle is left unattended in a no parking zone in any business district or in any place where no parking is permitted.
(4) When any vehicle against which two or more tag citations have been issued for traffic violations is found illegally parked, and the owner thereof has failed to respond to the citation tags.
(5) When any vehicle is found to be inoperable as a result of an accident or otherwise, and constitutes a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic.
(6) When any vehicle is found to have been used in the commission of a crime and it is necessary to impound same for preservation of evidence, fingerprinting, etc.
(7) When any vehicle parked or operating upon a public street or highway fails to display, in the manner prescribed by the statutes of Ohio, a distinctive number and registration mark furnished by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of Ohio for the then current year for such vehicle.
(8) When any vehicle is left unattended due to the removal of an ill, injured or arrested operator.
(9) When any vehicle is left unattended and blocks the ingress or egress to any private street or any public or private driveway or other property without obtaining permission of the owner or other person lawfully authorized to give such permission.
(10) When any vehicle has been operated by a person who was driving without a lawful license or while his license has been suspended or revoked.
(11) When any vehicle has been stolen or operated without the consent of the owner.
(b) The Police Division shall forthwith take reasonable steps to notify the registered vehicle owner of the fact of such removal and impounding, reasons therefore and the place of storage.
(c) Vehicle Pound. The Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to designate a commercial garage or garages, lot or lots to which vehicles may be removed by police officers in the manner hereinabove provided. Such commercial garages or lots shall be adequately maintained and supervised at all times for the purpose of removing, safeguarding and discharging vehicles removed thereto by the Police Division. Such commercial garage or garages, lot or lots shall maintain adequate insurance, evidence of which shall be furnished to the Director of Public Safety or his authorized representative.
(d) Cost of Storage and Towing. Fees for storage and towing shall be in accordance with Chapter 307.
(e) Release of Impounded Vehicle. The owner or other person claiming such impounded vehicle shall appear at the Police Division and furnish evidence of his identity, ownership, current registration of the vehicle, and secure a release of the vehicle which was impounded. The impounded vehicle shall be surrendered to him by the commercial garage or lot upon payment of storage fees as prescribed by Chapter 307.
(Ord. 087-2020. Passed 5-4-20.)