(A) Any person receiving a citation for any parking violation in the city shall be deemed to have committed a violation and shall be fined in an amount not less than $20 nor more than $100 for each offense. Middletown Police Officers are hereby empowered to issue civil citations (parking tickets) for any violation of this chapter. The city shall promulgate a schedule of fines for each specific violation under this chapter.
(B) Impoundment of vehicles.
(1) In addition to any fine imposed, any vehicle abandoned or illegally parked on the public ways may be removed at the direction of the Chief of Police or his or her designated agent to a tow lot designated by the city. The vehicle may be reclaimed by the owner at the owner’s expense including all towing and storage charges and payment of all fines imposed by the city. The Chief of Police or his or her designated agent shall release a vehicle to its legal owner without fine if it has been determined by the city police that the vehicle was stolen,
(2) In addition to the penalties levied for the parking violations, the city hereby imposes towing, holding, and storage charges upon such impounded vehicle. In the event the condition of the vehicle or circumstances of the tow requires the employment of extraordinary services or equipment, the reasonable charges of the towing operator, as approved by the Chief of Police, for such shall be added to the fee. Release of an impounded vehicle is conditioned upon the payment of the penalty levied for the parking, violations and/or the towing, holding, and storage charges imposed thereon.
(3) Any vehicle remaining in the possession of the contracted tow lot to which it has been delivered and with which it has remained for a period of 60 days without being reclaimed by the rightful owner thereof, and without the payment of the towing and storage charges thereon, may after authorization of the Chief of Police or his or her designated agent, be sold to pay the towing and storage. The advertisement of the proposed sale shall be published as set forth in KRS 424.130. The last advertisement shall be made at least seven days before sale is held. Notice of sale shall be sent by registered mail to the owner of the motor vehicle, and to any other person known to have any interest therein, addressed to the person at their last known address at least ten days before the sale is held.
(C) Appeal. The citation as notice of the parking violation represents a determination that a violation has been committed, and such determination shall be final unless contested to the Code Enforcement Board, under the procedure set out in Chapter 39 of the City of Middletown Code of Ordinances.
(Ord. 03-08-18-D, passed 4-12-2018)