COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR ORDINANCE NO. 081186

 

Amending and adding a new section to Chapter 70, Code of Ordinances, by repealing Sections 70-1, 70-273, 70-643 and 70-647 and enacting in lieu thereof new sections of like number and subject matter and adding a new Section 70-274.

 

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Kansas City has determined that it is in the public interest, safety and welfare of the City of Kansas City to amend Chapter 70 to regulate tow vehicles at any scene of a fire or accident within the city limits of Kansas City; NOW, THEREFORE,

 

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

 

Section 1. That Chapter 70, Code of Ordinances of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby amended by repealing Sections 70-1, 70-273, 70-643 and 70-647 and enacting in lieu thereof new sections of like number and subject matter and adding a new Section 70-274, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 70-1. Definitions.

 

(a)   The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

 

Accident  means a collision between a vehicle and another vehicle, railroad train, person or stationary object, or the overturn or upset of a vehicle which results in property damage, personal injury or death; or any entry into or emerging from a moving vehicle by a person which results in personal injury or death to such person.

 

Alley  means a street or highway intended to provide access to the rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts and not intended for the purpose of through vehicular traffic. 

 

All-terrain vehicle  means any motorized vehicle manufactured and used exclusively for off-highway use which is 50 inches or less in width, with an unladen dry weight of 600 pounds or less, traveling on three, four or more low-pressure tires, with a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control. 

 

Ambulance  means any motor vehicle constructed, reconstructed, arranged, equipped, used or meant for use of transporting ill, injured or otherwise incapacitated persons from one place to another. 

 

Authorized emergency vehicle  means such fire department vehicles, police vehicles and ambulances as are publicly owned, and such other publicly or privately owned vehicles as are designated such by law, or by the board of police commissioners of the city. 

 

Automated traffic control system  means a system consisting of devices with one or more motor vehicle sensors working in conjunction with traffic control signals to automatically produce photographs, micrographs, a videotape or other recorded images of motor vehicles entering an intersection in violation of red traffic signal indications or otherwise violating traffic control ordinances. 

 

Automated traffic control system records  means photographs, micrographs, videotape or other recorded images of motor vehicles entering an intersection in violation of red traffic signal indications or otherwise violating traffic control ordinances. 

 

Bicycle  means every vehicle propelled solely by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, except such vehicles with a seat height of no more than 25 inches from the ground when the seat is adjusted to its highest position, and except scooters and similar devices. 

 

Boulevard  means a street which is under jurisdiction of the board of parks and recreation commissioners. 

 

Bus  means a motor vehicle designed and constructed for the general transportation of passengers for hire and possessing a manufacturer's rated seating capacity for a driver and eight or more passengers. 

 

Business district  means the territory contiguous to and including a highway when within any 600 feet along such highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including but not limited to hotels, banks or office buildings, railroad stations and public buildings which occupy at least 300 feet of frontage on one side or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the highway. 

 

Commercial driver's license  . See "License." 

 

Commercial motor vehicle  means any self-propelled or towed vehicle used on public highways to transport passengers or property when: 

 

(1)    The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds;

 

(2)    The vehicle is designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver; or

 

(3)    The vehicle is used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations issued by the secretary of transportation under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 USC App. 1801-1813).

 

Commuter vehicle  means a motor vehicle parked in an area where at least one side or 50 percent of a street or block is zoned residential, by a person not a resident thereof. 

 

Construction zone  , used interchangeably with "  work zone  ," in this chapter, means any area upon or around any highway as defined in section 302.010, RSMo, which is visibly marked as an area where construction, maintenance, or other work is occurring, and includes the lanes of a highway leading up to the area upon which an activity described herein is being performed, beginning at the point where appropriate signs directing motor vehicles to merge from one lane into another lane are posted. 

 

Controlled access street  or  highway  means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the highway, street or roadway, except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway. 

 

Crosswalk  means: 

 

(1)    That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; and in the absence of a sidewalk on one side of the roadway, that part of a roadway included within the extension of the lateral lines of the existing sidewalk at right angles to the center.

 

(2)    Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.

 

Curb loading zone  means a space adjacent to the curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials. 

 

Dealer  means any person engaged in the sale or exchange of new, used or reconstructed motor vehicles or trailers. 

 

Director  means the director of the public works department of this city. 

 

Divided street  or  highway  means a street or highway divided into two or more roadways by leaving an intervening space or by a physical barrier or by a clearly indicated dividing section so constructed as to impede vehicular traffic. 

 

Drag race  means the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit. 

 

Driver  means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. 

 

Driver's license  means any license to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of this state. 

 

Dwelling unit  means a building or portion thereof designed exclusively for residential occupancy by one family and provided with sanitation and cooking facilities. 

 

Emergency vehicle  . See "Authorized emergency vehicle." 

 

Explosive  means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb. 

 

Farm tractor  means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement, for drawing plows, mowing machines and other implements of husbandry. 

 

Flammable liquid  means any liquid which has a flashpoint of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or less, as determined by a Tagliabue or equivalent closed-cup test device. 

 

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR)  means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a combination (articulated) vehicle. In the absence of a value specified by the manufacturer, GCWR will be determined by adding the GVWR of the power unit and the total weight of the towed unit and any load thereon. 

 

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)  means the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle. 

 

Gross weight  means the weight of a vehicle or vehicle combination without load plus the weight of any load thereon. 

 

Highway  means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. 

 

House trailer  means: 

 

(1)    A trailer or semitrailer which is designed, constructed and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or sleeping place, either permanently or temporarily, and is equipped for use as a conveyance on streets and highways; or

 

(2)    A trailer or semitrailer whose chassis and exterior shell is designed and constructed for use as a house trailer, as defined in subsection (1) of this definition, but which is used instead, permanently or temporarily, for the advertising, sale, display or promotion of merchandise or services, or for any other commercial purpose except the transportation of property for hire or the transportation of property for distribution by a private carrier.

 

Human-powered vehicle  means every vehicle designed to be moved solely by human power. 

 

Implement of husbandry  means every vehicle designed or adapted and used exclusively for agricultural operations and only incidentally operated or moved upon the highways or streets. 

 

Intersection  means: 

 

(1)    The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways or streets joining at any other angle may come in conflict.

 

(2)    Where a street or highway includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided street or highway by an intersecting street or highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. If such intersecting street or highway also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of such street or highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection.

 

(3)    The junction of an alley with a street or highway shall not constitute an intersection.

 

Issuing authority  means the director or a person or party authorized by the director to issue residential parking permits for a residential permit parking area or street. 

 

Laned roadway  means a roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic. 

 

License  and  license to operate a motor vehicle  means any driver's license or any other license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under, or granted by, the laws of this state, including: 

 

(1)    Any temporary license or instruction permit.

 

(2)    The privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle, whether or not such person holds a valid license.

 

(3)    Any nonresident's operating privilege as defined in this section.

 

(4)    Commercial driver's license (CDL): a license to operate any commercial motor vehicle issued by the driver's state of residence.

 

(5)    Class A CDL: required to operate any combination of vehicles with a GCWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

 

(6)    Class B CDL: required to operate any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.

 

(7)    Class C CDL: required to operate any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that meets neither the definition of Class A nor that of Class B as contained in this section, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for the purposes of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and which require the motor vehicle to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Regulations as set out in 49 CFR part172, subpart F.

 

(8)    Class E license: required to operate any vehicle for hire not required to have a Class A, B or C CDL.

 

(9)    Class F license: required to operate any private vehicle which is transporting less than 15 persons and not transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding.

 

(10)    Class M license: required for operation of a motorcycle only.

 

Lienholder  means a person holding a security interest in a vehicle. 

 

Loading zone  means a space reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or property. 

 

Lodging room  means a room rented as sleeping and living quarters, but without kitchen facilities, and with or without an individual bathroom. In a suite of rooms without kitchen facilities, each room which provides sleeping accommodations shall be counted as one lodging room for the purpose of this chapter. 

 

Lodginghouse  means a building, other than a hotel, where a room without meals or cooking privileges for five or more persons is provided for compensation. 

 

Metal tire  means every tire the surface of which in contact with the highway or street is wholly or partly of metal or other hard, nonresilient material. 

 

Moped  means a motor-driven cycle both with pedals to permit propulsion by human power and with a motor which produces not to exceed two brake horsepower and which is not capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed in excess of 30 miles per hour on level ground. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement shall not exceed 50 cubic centimeters; and the moped shall have a power drive system that functions directly or automatically without clutching or shifting by the operator after the drive system is engaged. 

 

Motor home  means every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily as a mobile dwelling, office or commercial space. 

 

Motor vehicle  means every vehicle which is self-propelled, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved solely by human power. 

 

Motorcycle  means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor. 

 

Motor-driven cycle  means every motorcycle, motor scooter or motorized bicycle having an engine with less than 150 cubic centimeters displacement or with five brake horsepower or less. 

 

Nonresident  means every person who is not a resident of this state. 

 

Nonresident's operating privilege  means the privilege conferred upon a nonresident by the laws of this state pertaining to the operation by such person of a motor vehicle, or the use of a vehicle owned by such person, in this state. 

 

Official time standard  means whenever certain hours are named in this chapter, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time, as may be in current use in this city. 

 

Official traffic control devices  means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this chapter placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic. 

 

Off-road vehicle  means any vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, ice, snow, marsh, swampland or other natural terrain without benefit of a road or trail: 

 

(1)    Including, without limitation, the following:

 

a.    Jeeps;

 

b.    All-terrain vehicles;

 

c.    Dune buggies;

 

d.    Multiwheel drive or low-pressure tire vehicles;

 

e.    Vehicle using an endless belt or tread, or a combination of tread and low-pressure tires;

 

f.    Motorcycles, trail bikes, minibikes and related vehicles; and

 

g.    Any other means of transportation deriving power from any other source other than muscle or wind; and

 

(2)    Excluding the following:

 

a.    Registered motorboats;

 

b.    Aircraft;

 

c.    Any military, fire or law enforcement vehicle;

 

d.    Farm-type tractors and other self-propelled equipment for harvesting and transporting farm or forest products;

 

e.    Any vehicle being used for farm purposes, earth-moving or construction while being used for such purposes on the work site;

 

f.    Self-propelled lawnmowers, or lawn or garden tractors, or golf carts, while being used exclusively for their designed purposes; and

 

g.    Any vehicle being used for the purpose of transporting a handicapped person.

 

Operator  means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. 

 

Out of service  means a temporary prohibition against the operation of a particular commercial motor vehicle, or the operation of a particular motor carrier. 

 

Out of service order  means a declaration by the Federal Highway Administration or any authorized enforcement officer of a federal, state, commonwealth or Puerto Rico, Canadian, Mexican or any local jurisdiction, that a driver, or a commercial motor vehicle, or a motor carrier operation, is out of service. 

 

Owner  means a person, other than a lienholder, having a property interest in or title to a vehicle. The term includes a person entitled to the use and possession of a vehicle subject to a security interest in another person, but excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security. 

 

Park  and  parking  mean the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers. 

 

Passenger car  means every motor vehicle, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, designed for carrying ten passengers or less and used for the transportation of persons. 

 

Passenger loading zone  means a place reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles while receiving or discharging passengers. 

 

Pedestrian  means any person afoot. 

 

Personal identification card  means a document issued by the department of revenue of the state for the sole purpose of identifying the bearer and not authorized for use as a driver's license. 

 

Pole trailer  means every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections. 

 

Police officer  means every officer of the police department or any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations. 

 

Private road  or  driveway  means every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons. 

 

Railroad  means a carrier of persons or property upon cars operated upon stationary rails. 

 

Railroad sign  or  signal  means any sign, signal or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad car. 

 

Railroad train  means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails. 

 

Registration  means the registration certificate or certificates and registration plates issued under laws pertaining to the registration of vehicles. 

 

Residence district  means the territory contiguous to and including a street or highway not comprising a business district when the property on such street or highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is in the main improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business. 

 

Residential parking area  means a contiguous or nearly contiguous area containing public streets or parts thereof primarily abutted by residential property or residential and nonbusiness property such as schools, parks, churches, hospitals and nursing homes. 

 

Residential parking permit  means a permit issued by the city or an issuing authority which confers certain parking privileges upon the driver of the car to which it is affixed. 

 

Residential permit parking area  or  street  means a residential parking area or a street where vehicles with an affixed residential parking permit may be parked in excess of posted parking. 

 

Right-of-way  means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other. 

 

Roadway  means that portion of a street or highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk, berm or shoulder, even though such sidewalk, berm or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles or other human-powered vehicles. If a street or highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" as used in this chapter shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively. 

 

Safety zone  means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone. 

 

School bus  means every motor vehicle that complies with the provisions of this chapter and is used to transport pupils to or from school or in connection with school activities, but not including buses operated by common carriers in urban transportation of pupils. 

 

Semitrailer  means every vehicle, with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle. 

 

Sidewalk  means that portion of a street between the curblines, or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines, intended for use by pedestrians. 

 

Solid rubber tire  means every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load. 

 

Stand  and  standing  mean the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers. 

 

Stop, when required  , means complete cessation of movement. 

 

Stop  and  stopping, when prohibited,  mean any halting, even momentarily, of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal. 

 

Street  means the entire width between boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. 

 

Taxicab  means a public passenger motor vehicle with a rated passenger-carrying capacity of five or less, exclusive of the driver, furnished for hire on a call or demand basis to transport persons, packages or messages where the route traveled and trip destination are controlled by the passenger and at a charge or fare based upon time and mileage and recorded and indicated on a taximeter. 

 

Through highway  or  street  means every highway or street or portion thereof on which vehicular traffic is given preferential right-of-way, and at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways or streets is required by law to yield the right-of-way to vehicles on such through highway or street in obedience to a stop sign, yield sign or other official traffic control device, when such signs or devices are erected as provided in this chapter.

 

Tow vehicle  means any motor vehicle designed or equipped to, or which does in fact provide for hire, and towing service, including but not limited to towing, lifting, or extraction of any vehicle, pushing of vehicles, engine starting, roll back pick up or recovery, and the carrying or transporting of any vehicle.

 

Tow vehicle operator means any person who drives a tow vehicle, operates the equipment mounted on or contained within a tow vehicle, or assists in the operation of a tow vehicle or its equipment, including any and all acts and functions incident to the movement of a tow vehicle from place to place, as well as all acts involved in the towing of any vehicle by the tow vehicle.

 

Traffic  means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any street or highway for purposes of travel. 

 

Traffic control signal  means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed. 

 

Trailer  means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle. 

 

Truck  means every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. 

 

Truck tractor  means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn. 

 

Vehicle  means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. 

 

Vehicle identification number  means the numbers and letters, if any, designated for the purpose of identifying the vehicle or the unique identifier assigned to each vehicle by the manufacturer pursuant to regulations. 

 

(b)   Whenever any words and phrases used in this chapter are not defined in this section but are defined in the state or federal laws regulating the operation of vehicles, any such definition in the state or federal law shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used in this chapter, except when the context otherwise requires.

 

Sec. 70-273. Tow vehicles and accident scene.

 

(a) No owner of a tow vehicle or tow vehicle operator shall:

(1) stop, stand or park a tow vehicle at a location where an accident has occurred to solicit business unless

 

(a) the owner of a tow vehicle or tow vehicle operator has been requested by the police officer in charge at the location where an accident has occurred; or

(b) the owner of a tow vehicle or tow operator has been requested by one of the operators, owner, or agent of the vehicles involved in the accident; or

(c) the owner of a tow vehicle or tow operator has been requested by the dispatcher of the police officer in charge at the location where an accident has occurred.

 

(2) remain at a location where an accident has occurred after being directed to leave by a police officer.

 

(3) fail to provide any police officer, upon request, at the location where an accident has occurred with the name and telephone number of the person requesting the tow truck operator , or the police officers name and serial number requesting the tow truck operator or the dispatchers name and serial number requesting the tow truck operator.

 

(b) Failure by the owner of a tow vehicle or tow vehicle operator to provide the police officers name and serial number or the police officers dispatchers name and serial number or the name and telephone number of the operator of the vehicle involved in the traffic accident requesting the tow truck operator to be present at the scene of the accident to any police officer shall be prima facie evidence that the owner of a tow vehicle or tow vehicle operator had not been requested to stop, stand or park a tow vehicle at a location where an accident occurred.

 

(c) Any person operating a tow vehicle in violation of any part of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than $250.00 and not more than $500.00, or by imprisonment of not more than 180 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

 

Sec. 70-274. Solicitation of Tow Business.

 

No person shall, while at the scene of a fire or traffic accident, solicit any person for the purpose of procuring towing business or authorization or for an agreement for hire or for a fee to tow, lift, extract, or push any vehicle, nor any engine starting, nor any roll back pick up or recovery, nor transportation of any vehicle.

 

Sec. 70-643.  Disposition of impounded property; prerequisites for release; collection

of costs.

 

(a)   Any vehicle or personal property removed or taken into custody under the provisions of section 70-642 shall be held, except as provided in this division, until the owner or his authorized agent applies for such vehicle or personal property and pays the costs of towing and storing such vehicle or personal property. Before releasing any vehicle on which a traffic ticket has been issued by the police department, the police shall require that a bond be posted for an appearance in court on such violation as well as on any other outstanding warrants. In lieu of a bond being posted, the police may accept the driver's license of a state resident, or they may accept payment of the satisfaction fine, penalties and costs of the offense if court appearance is not mandatory, and transmit such moneys to the traffic violations bureau. If the owner or authorized agent posts a bond for an appearance in court or, in lieu of posting a bond, deposits his license, the police department will prepare a statement of towing and storage charges and will forward it to the court. Upon a plea of guilty or a finding of guilty, after trial, the court shall collect the amount due for towing or storing the vehicle or property. If, after trial, a finding of not guilty is rendered, such towing and storage charges will not be collected. If no ticket was issued the owner and/or lienholder may request a hearing under RSMo section 304.156.5. If the owner does not want to reclaim the vehicle, he/she can transfer title to the vehicle to the city or authorized city contractor. No additional storage charges will be assessed after the title is delivered and the vehicle will be sold in the next available sale. Except, if there is a lien against the vehicle, the vehicle must be held until the lienholder, after receiving notification as required by this article, fails to claim the vehicle or provides a written release of the lien against it.

 

(b)   The city manager, with the advice of the director of neighborhood and community services and the budget officer, shall determine the rate of tow-in and storage charges and shall notify the city council in a written communication of the rates. Calculation of storage charges shall commence immediately after the vehicle or personal property is impounded. No storage charge will be assessed if the vehicle or personal property is released to the owner within the first 24 hours after the property is impounded. The costs and expenses shall be a lien in favor of the city on the motor vehicle or personal property, provided that if at any time the vehicle or personal property is removed under the provisions of section 70-642 the neighborhood and community services department may, under the following guidelines, reduce or waive the cost for the release of the vehicle to the owner:

 

(1)    The vehicle was towed under the provisions of section 70-642(9) and a traffic or parking ticket was not issued.

 

(2) The owner or operator is found not-guilty in court for the offense that caused the vehicle to be towed.

 

(3)    The vehicle was towed and/or stored as evidence in conjunction with a law enforcement investigation that did not involve the arrest of the owner or operator of the vehicle.

 

(4)    The vehicle was a recovered stolen vehicle.

 

(c)   The police department may place a hold on a vehicle that is needed for evidence. Placing a vehicle on hold will prevent the release or sale of the vehicle while the hold is in effect. The police chief and director of neighborhood and community services or their designees will establish procedures for placing and removing holds on vehicles.

 

Sec. 70-647.  Advertisement of sale of impounded property.

The director of neighborhood and community services shall publish the sale on the Citys web site at least five days before the sale. Such publication shall briefly describe the nature of the property, state the date, time and place of the sale, and state that the sale shall be made to the highest bidder at public auction.

 

_____________________________________________

 

Approved as to form and legality:

 

 

___________________________________

Kathy Adams

Assistant City Attorney