§ 62-87. Impoundment of vehicles.

(a)

Members of the sheriff's department or the department of code administration shall have authority to impound any vehicle and/or issue a citation to general sessions court to the registered owner of such vehicle under the circumstances enumerated in this subsection:

(1)

When a vehicle is so parked, stopped or standing upon any roadway of the county or is so disabled as to obstruct the orderly and safe flow of traffic and the person in charge of the vehicle does not provide for its custody and removal.

(2)

When a vehicle is left parked on any roadway within the county for a period of 48 hours without current registration or is inoperable.

(3)

When a vehicle is left parked and unattended in one place on any roadway within the county for a period of seven consecutive days.

(4)

When a vehicle is left parked and unattended on public property so as to obstruct the usual and necessary activities thereon or when the safety and welfare of the public is threatened thereby.

(5)

When the driver or operator of a vehicle has been arrested.

(b)

Whenever an officer of the sheriff's department or the Knox County Code Administration Department removes a vehicle from any roadway, as authorized in this section, the officer shall obtain from the wrecker or tow-in service employee a receipt, in triplicate, one copy of which shall be retained by the wrecker or tow-in service employee, describing the vehicle, the reasons for its removal, the place where the vehicle is to be stored, and all items of a personal nature found in the vehicle and not attached to or a part of the vehicle. Such officer shall give or cause to be given to the owner of such vehicle, when such owner is available, the duplicate copy of such receipt described in this subsection as notice to such owner of the fact of removal. The original of such receipt described in this subsection shall be retained by the sheriff's department or the Knox County Code Administration Department as a permanent record.

(c)

The owner or authorized driver or operator of an impounded vehicle may make application to take possession of the vehicle and remove such vehicle from the place to which it has been removed or stored by paying the costs of removing the vehicle from such roadway and all charges which may have accrued for the storage of the vehicle.

(d)

Any violation of this section may be punishable by assessment of a civil penalty of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00 per violation.

(Ord. No. O-90-9-112, § 3-7, 9-10-90; Ord. No. O-98-11-102, §§ 1—4, 11-16-98)