(A) (1)Any police officer may impound any vehicle which is parked at a place where parking is prohibited under the provisions of the traffic code, which has been parked in excess of the time allowed for parking in any place, which has been involved in two (2) or more violations of the traffic code for which citation tags have been issued and not presented as required by the traffic code, which has been abandoned anywhere within the city, or which has become disabled within the city and is creating a traffic hazard. Any person desiring to redeem such impounded vehicle shall pay to the city a service charge of five dollars ($5), storage charges of three dollars ($3) per day, any towing charges involved, and any parking citations.
(2) In addition to the charges mentioned above, any person being the owner, lessee, bailee, or in possession of any vehicle involved in violations of the provisions set forth above, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction therefor shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars ($5) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).
(3) Any person violating the provisions of this section may be proceeded against by arrest, summons, or citation. Upon citation, the person may present the citation tag with a written plea of guilty to the Chief of Police or his delegate and deposit with him the sum of five dollars ($5) for each violation, except as otherwise provided.
(B) If the owner of an impounded vehicle files with the Chief of Police a written statement under oath that the vehicle has been stolen and abandoned by a thief, or that the vehicle has been unavoidably disabled and the owner had taken reasonable steps in preventing and correcting the disability, the Chief of Police shall have the power to remit all or any part of the storage and service charges.
(C) Whenever any vehicle which has been impounded by a police officer remains in the possession of the city, unclaimed by any person having the right to the possession of such vehicle for a period of 45 days, such vehicle shall be sold under the direction of the Chief of Police at public auction to the highest bidder, after notice of such auction has been given pursuant to the provisions of KRS Chapter 424.
Statutory reference:
Legal notices, KRS Chapter 424
(D) The City Clerk/Treasurer shall open and maintain a checking account for the sole purpose of receiving and disbursing any and all funds obtained relative to the operating of the impounding lot by the police department.
(Ord. 78-08-02, passed 8-7-78; Am. Ord. 80-0803, passed 9-2-80)
Cross reference: