When any police officer finds a vehicle standing upon a street or a municipally owned parking lot in violation of any parking regulation, except those provisions relating to parking meters, such officer is hereby authorized to require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move the same to a position in compliance herewith. When any police officer finds a vehicle unattended upon any street or in a municipally owned parking lot in violation of any parking regulation, except those provisions relating to parking meters, such officer is hereby authorized to provide for the removal of such vehicle and remove the same to a convenient garage or other facility or place of safety; provided, that if any charge shall be placed against said vehicle for removal or storage thereof by anyone called upon to assist therewith the same shall be paid prior to removal from such place of storage or safe-keeping.
('69 Code, § 5.19)