§ 35-197. Immobilization and impoundment for parking violations.

(a)

Any police officer or parking control officer is authorized to remove or cause to be removed any vehicle from any public property or street when two separate complaints for illegal parking have been filed against the registered owner of such vehicle and the owner has failed to respond to the notice of illegal parking issued pursuant to section 35-469 and has also failed to respond to the additional notice sent to the registered owner under section 35-470.

(b)

Under the circumstances set out in subsection (a) of this section, any police officer or parking control officer is authorized to temporarily immobilize such vehicle by installing on or attaching to the vehicle a device designed to restrict the normal movement of such vehicle. The officer installing or attaching the device shall affix to the windshield of the vehicle a notice stating that such vehicle has been immobilized for violations of parking ordinances, that release may be obtained at a designated place, that attempting to remove the device is unlawful, that unless arrangements are made for the release of the vehicle within 48 hours the vehicle will be removed from the streets, and that if the vehicle is removed the owner is responsible for the towing and storage charges incurred.

(c)

It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or attempt to remove the immobilization device or to move the vehicle before a release is obtained as provided in this section.

(d)

It shall be unlawful for any person to damage an immobilization device.

(e)

When a vehicle has been properly immobilized under this section, a fee of $50.00 shall be charged before the vehicle is released. This fee is for the cost of installation and removal of the immobilization device only and does not include any fees for towing or storage that may be charged if the vehicle is removed from the streets after being immobilized.

(Code 1988, § 35-151.1; Ord. No. 65297, § 1, 4-7-1988; Ord. No. 65998, § 1, 3-23-1995)