Sec. 18-396. - Recovery of vehicle.

(a)

No person shall recover any vehicle removed to a public area maintained by the police department or the city in accordance with the provisions of this article, except as provided in this section. Before the owner or person in charge of such vehicle shall be allowed to recover it from the public area maintained by the police department or city, he shall present to the police department evidence of his identity and rights to possession of the vehicle and shall sign a receipt for its return in accordance with sections 18-392 and 18-393, upon which he shall receive a written order directed to the police officer in charge of the public area where the vehicle is parked to release such vehicle upon paying all charges, if any, incurred by the city in the removal and storage of such vehicle.

(b)

If the vehicle in question has been removed to a public parking area designated by the city, no storage charges shall be assessed against the owner, provided that the owner recovers the vehicle within 48 hours of the declaration by the director that the parking prohibition has terminated. If the owner or person in charge recovers the vehicle so impounded at a period greater than 48 hours after the declaration by the director that the parking prohibition has terminated, he shall pay in addition to the fine provided in this division an additional charge of $1.00 per day or any portion thereof for storage commencing with the date of the violation. If the vehicle is not recovered within the 48-hour period after the declaration by the director that the parking prohibition has terminated and the chief of police deems it best or necessary to have the vehicle removed from the public area maintained by the police department or the city to a public storage area maintained by a private individual, the owner or person in charge of such vehicle shall in addition to the payment of the fine pay to the police officer at the police station the additional charge of towing or removal from the public area maintained by the police department or the city to the public storage area operated by the private individual, plus storage charges of $1.00 per day chargeable to such vehicle. Until paid, these charges constitute a lien on the vehicle which may be enforced in the same manner as a motor vehicle lien for towing and storage.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 18-396)