1103.07 IMPOUNDING OF VEHICLES; REDEMPTION.

   (a)   Police officers are authorized to provide for the removal and impounding of a vehicle under the following circumstances:

      (1)   When any vehicle is parked in violation of law or ordinance.

      (2)   When any vehicle bears license plates not authorized by law to be used for such vehicle or lacks any license plate required by law.

      (3)   When any vehicle appears to have been abandoned, or appears to be in use by a fugitive from justice or in the commission of any violation of law or ordinance in the City or elsewhere.

      (4)   When any vehicle has been involved in any traffic accident and has been damaged so as to be inoperable.

      (5)   When any vehicle violates equipment provisions whereby its continued operation would constitute a condition hazardous to life, limb, or property.

      (6)   When any vehicle violates muffler requirements of Section 1137.20.

      (7)   When any vehicle is left unattended due to removal of an ill, injured or arrested operator.

      (8)   When any vehicle has been operated by any person who has failed to stop in case of an accident or collision.

      (9)   When any vehicle is being operated by a driver who is driving without a lawful license or while his license has been suspended or revoked.

      (10)   When any vehicle is found upon which one or more delinquent parking citations exist unpaid.

      (11)   When any vehicle is parked in private property in violation of Section 741.11 of the General Offenses Code.

   (b)   The police officer may cause such vehicle to be taken to a designated motor vehicle pound, and immediately shall report such action in writing to the officer then in charge of the Police Department, who shall see that the proper reports are correctly filed and shall forward such information to the Police Chief.

   (c)   A vehicle so impounded shall not be released except upon written order signed by the Chief of Police or some other officer designated by him. Any charges for towing or storing any impounded vehicle shall be paid by the owner of the vehicle or his agent directly to the garage acting as motor vehicle pound. Owners or agents of owners of vehicles impounded at the Service Center or other City owned facilities shall be charged a storage fee of three dollars ($3.00) per day or any part of a day. All parking citation charges delinquent or otherwise, as fined by the Municipal Court, shall be paid before such vehicle is released.

   (d)   No owner or operator shall remove an impounded vehicle from the place of storage without complying with the above procedure. Possession of a vehicle which has been impounded and unlawfully taken from the place of storage, by the owner or operator, shall constitute prima-facie evidence that it was so removed by the owner or operator.

(Ord. 74-143. Enacted 12-23-74.)