§ 11.39.100. Impoundment of vehicles.

Members of the police department are authorized to remove or have removed a vehicle from a street to the nearest garage or other place of safety (including another place on a street), or to a garage designated or maintained by the police department, or otherwise maintained by this city, when:

(a)

The vehicle is parked on a part of a snow emergency route on which a parking prohibition is in effect;

(b)

The vehicle is stalled on a part of a snow emergency route on which there is a covering of snow, sleet, or ice on which there is a parking prohibition in effect and the person who was operating such vehicle does not appear to be removing it in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(c)

The vehicle is parked in violation of any parking ordinance or provision of law and is interfering or about to interfere with snow removal operations.

Upon any vehicle being removed and impounded as provided herein, such vehicle shall be surrendered to the duly identified owner as provided for in Chapter 11.97 of this Code.

In any proceeding for the violation of the provisions of this chapter, the registration plate displayed upon the vehicle in violation shall constitute in evidence a prima facie presumption that the owner of such vehicle was the person who parked or placed such vehicle at the place where the violation occurred.

(Ord. No. 37-832)