§ 10.20.165. Removing vehicles from streets—Authority.

Officers of the police department may remove or direct the removal of a vehicle from a street or other public property to a facility designated by the city, under the following circumstances:

(1)

When any vehicle is left unattended upon any bridge or viaduct where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic.

(2)

When a vehicle upon a street or alley is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and there is no person in charge thereof or the person or persons in charge of the vehicle are by reason of physical injury incapacitated to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal.

(3)

When any vehicle is left unattended upon a street or alley and is so parked illegally as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic.

(4)

When a vehicle is parked and left unattended upon a street in violation of this chapter, Chapter 10.52 of this title or another ordinance of the city of Fort Dodge.

(5)

When a vehicle is parked so as to interfere with street construction, repair, cleaning, maintenance, the prompt and orderly removal of snow and/or ice, or so as to interfere with utility construction or maintenance or streets or portion of streets approved by the city engineering department for temporary "Emergency No Parking—Tow Away Zone" for the purpose of public safety. Temporary No Parking signs shall be posted for twelve hours prior to said activities.

(6)

When a vehicle is parked on a street for more than twenty-four hours.

(7)

When a vehicle is parked in any parking lot owned or operated by the city for more than twenty-four hours.

(8)

When a vehicle is parked in an officially marked bus or taxi stop.

(9)

When a vehicle is abandoned. "Abandoned vehicle" means any of the following:

(A)

A vehicle that has been left unattended on public property for more than twenty-four hours and lacks current registration plates or two or more wheels or other parts which renders the vehicle totally inoperable, or

(B)

A vehicle that has remained illegally on public property for more than twenty-four hours, or

(C)

A vehicle that has been legally impounded by order of a police authority and has not been reclaimed for a period of ten days. However, the police department may declare the vehicle abandoned within the ten-day period by commencing the notification process described in this [chapter].

(Ord. No. 2142, § I, 6-27-11)