Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle standing on a street in violation of any of the provisions of this code or any other ordinance or traffic regulation, such officer is authorized to remove such vehicle or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move it to a position off the paved or main traveled part of such street. Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle apparently abandoned on a public street or finds a vehicle unattended on any public street where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, such officer is authorized to provide for the removal of such vehicle to the nearest garage or other place of safety, and the owner of such vehicle shall pay all charges incidental to the removal and storage of such vehicle prior to the surrender of the vehicle to the owner.
('81 Code, § 72.18)