Sec. 7-527. Violations.

   (a)   No person shall tow a motor vehicle from a private parking area without the vehicle owner's permission, as required by Section 7-519, unless the property is properly posted with signs that conform to Section 7-517 and photographic evidence of the parking violation is obtained consistent with Section 7-520.

   (b)   No property owner of any private parking area shall permit towing unless the property is properly posted with signs that conform to Section 7-517.

   (c)   No property owner of any private parking area without signs that conform to Section 7-517 shall permit towing, except:

   (1)   On direction from the vehicle owner;

   (2)   On direction from a city police officer, police aide, or firefighter; or

   (3)   As exempted by Section 7-518.

   (d)   No person shall tow a motor vehicle from private property that is not a private parking area without the vehicle owner's permission, except:

   (1)   On direction from the property owner as required by Section 7-519; or

   (2)   On direction from a city police officer, police aide, or firefighter.

   (e)   Tows performed without subsequent notice to police, consistent with Section 7-521, shall be a violation of this article.

   (f)   No person shall drop, store, or hold a towed motor vehicle at any place between the parked location and the towing carrier's permanent impound lot, as required by Section 7-522.

   (g)   No person shall fail to exercise reasonable care when towing or storing a motor vehicle, as required by Section 7-523.

   (h)   No person shall fail to release a motor vehicle towed without the vehicle owner's permission immediately after the claimant has produced the documentation required in Section 7-524.

   (i)   No person releasing a motor vehicle after its being towed without the vehicle owner's permission shall require as a condition of release any documentation different from that permitted in Section 7-524.

   (j)   No person releasing a motor vehicle under this article shall charge more than the maximum charges permitted in Sections 7-525 and 7-526 or more than the maximum charges posted in the parking area signs, whichever is less.

   (k)   No person releasing a motor vehicle under this article shall hold the vehicle as security for payment of the charges.

   (l)   Ignorance of any violation under this section shall not be a defense in any prosecution brought under this article.

(Ord. No. 12055, § 1, 11-14-23)