When motor vehicles are impounded for any reason by members of the Police Department such motor vehicles will be handled as follows.
(A) Vehicles which are of an evidential value will be stored in the garage at the Police Department. These vehicles will be held inside until they are processed and no longer have any evidential value.
(B) Vehicles which have no evidential value will be stored in the locked fence at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
(C) When vehicles are impounded by members of the Police Department (for any reason) the impounding officer will make a complete inventory search of the vehicle, prior to its impound. A complete list of all items found in the vehicle will be made and all items of evidence and/or contraband found in the vehicle will be seized. These items of evidence and/or contraband will be placed in the property room of the Police Department.
(D) An evidence/property form will be completed on all vehicles that are impounded. This evidence/property form will be turned over to the Police Department Evidence Officer.
(E) Photographs of all sides of the vehicle will be taken prior to its being impounded. Photographs will be taken of all evidence and/or contraband in the vehicle prior to its removal from the vehicle.
(F) Upon release of any vehicle impounded the person requesting the vehicle must show proof of ownership and proper vehicle registration is necessary, also the person requesting the vehicle must pay any tow bills prior to vehicle release. A storage fee will also be paid prior to release of the vehicle. The storage fees are as follows: $10 per day for inside storage, and $5 per day for outside storage. The impounding officer, if possible, will inform the owner of the vehicle the per day storage fee at the time that the vehicle is impounded. In addition, the officer will have the person to whom the vehicle is being released sign the property release form.
(Ord. 94-8-1, passed 8-16-94)