§ 162-233. Impound lot; attendant.

(a)

Every person operating a wrecker service within the city shall maintain an impound lot within the city limits, and all vehicles impounded within the city limits shall be delivered to this lot.

(b)

Any person operating a wrecker upon the streets of the city and maintaining an impound lot within the city as set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall maintain an attendant at the impound lot 24 hours of every day, and this attendant shall be clothed with the authority to release any impounded vehicle upon the owner meeting the legal requirements for release.

(c)

There shall be posted at the entrance to the impound lot nearest the impound lot office a sign, the minimum size of which shall be 24 inches by 24 inches, painted white with red lettering, stating the towing charge, the storage rate per day, that checks and credit cards shall be accepted in lieu of cash and for no additional fee, that no storage fee may be charged if the vehicle has been held less than 24 hours, that these conditions are required by state law and city ordinance, and that complaints may be made to the police permits section. The location of such sign must be approved by the police permits section as provided by state law.

(d)

Lighting shall be provided at a minimum average maintained foot-candle value of two on a horizontal plane at the finished surface or grade level.

(e)

Upon impoundment of any vehicle by a wrecker service, the wrecker service shall maintain records which shall include the following information:

(1)

The date and time the call was received by the wrecker service;

(2)

The name of the caller;

(3)

The date and time of initial towing;

(4)

The place of initial towing;

(5)

The date and time of arrival at the impound lot;

(6)

The date and time of release to the owner; and

(7)

The name of the wrecker driver and helper.

(f)

The records required by subsection (e) of this section shall be maintained at a location where affected members of the public may obtain such information by telephone or in person, during regular business hours. Further, all wrecker services, public and private, which impound vehicles shall register with the department of police the current telephone number of the person responsible for releasing the vehicles.

(g)

It shall be unlawful for any wrecker service to operate within the city without employing the services of a check approval agency and the major credit card services; and it shall be unlawful to refuse to accept, in lieu of cash, any check which can be insured by a check approval agency, any draft drawn on a credit union which can be insured by a check approval agency or any major credit card for the payment of any and all fees and costs resulting from the towing and storage of the impounded vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, the term "major credit card" means a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diner's Club card. The municipal clerk shall transmit a copy of this subsection to each wrecker service provider.

(h)

The records required by subsection (e) of this section shall be maintained at the impound lot required by subsection (a) of this section and shall be made available for inspection 24 hours a day at the request of the department of police.

(Code 1977, § 14-9012; Ord. No. 2009-07(08-O-2033), § 1, 2-11-09)