Chapter 10.40 IMPOUNDMENT OF VEHICLES

Chapter 10.40
IMPOUNDMENT OF VEHICLES

Sections:

10.40.010 Impounding of vehicles—Redemption—Sale.

Whenever the police chief or the chief’s designee determines that a vehicle shall be impounded and towed pursuant to authority granted by state law or this code, the police department or a towing service operator authorized by Chapter 10.42 of this Code may impound and tow the vehicle involved and remove it to a garage, parking lot or other suitable storage place. The procedures set forth in Chapter 8.08 of this code related to the towing of vehicles, including but not limited to notices, hearings, and cost recovery, shall apply to any vehicle impounded and towed under this section. (Ord. 1092 § 2 (Exh. B), 2023; Ord. 333 § 64, 1967)

10.40.020 Inventory procedure.

A. Establishment. There is created and established an inventory procedure for impounded vehicles.

B. Purpose and Limits.

1. When a vehicle has been lawfully impounded by the city, the contents shall be inventoried.

2. An inventory conducted pursuant to this section shall be made for the following purposes:

a. To ensure the protection of the owner’s property while it is impounded;

b. To reduce the potential assertion of false claims against the city or other persons for lost, stolen or damaged property; and

c. To reduce the danger of police officers and others from the impoundment of uninventoried property.

3. An inventory conducted pursuant to this section shall be carried out in accordance with an administrative program adopted under the auspices of this section.

C. Procedures. The city manager or his designee shall establish an administrative program designed and administered so that the inventory conducted for the purposes set forth in this section is implemented under specific guidelines which ensure that the inventory procedures involve no exercise of discretion by the person conducting the inventory. (Ord. 836 §§ 1—3, 1994)