(1) Any vehicle may be removed, by means of towing to the nearest
Official Towing Station or immobilized for up to seventy-two (72) hours by means
of applying a boot and then towed to the nearest Official Towing Station if not
reclaimed, by or under the direction of a member of the Department, or its
designated agent whenever any vehicle is:
(a) abandoned on the
highway;
(b) parked in a towing zone; or
(c) parked on a
public street and has three or more delinquent parking tickets for which
appropriate notice has been sent to the registered owner; provided that a boot
may be applied only after a delinquency notice on the third parking ticket has
been issued for at least thirty days; or
(d) parked on a public street
in violation of Section 12-916;
or
[83] (e) parked in
violation of Section 12-913(1)(b)(i), relating to parking in front of a public
or private driveway;
or
[84] (f) parked in
violation of Section 12-902(1)(a), which prohibits the parking of a vehicle upon
any roadway for the purpose of displaying such vehicle for sale;
or
[85] (g) parked in a
valet parking zone in violation of §
12-917(5).
[86] (h) parked
in a reserved accessible parking space in violation of §
12-1117(3)(f).
[87] (i) parked
on a sidewalk in violation of Section
12-913(1)(a)(ii).
[88] (2) When
a vehicle is towed pursuant to this section or other provision of law notice of
removal shall be sent within thirty (30) days by the Department, or its
designated agent, to the owner of record of such vehicle, indicating the place
to which such vehicle has been removed, the reason for its removal and
impounding, the applicable fees, and the possibility that the vehicle will be
sold at public auction if not reclaimed within fifteen (15) days of issuance of
notice, except that when a vehicle has been towed as an abandoned vehicle
appropriate notice shall be sent to the registered owner by regular mail within
seventy-two (72) hours whenever possible. When the Department intends to retain
possession of the vehicle pending an investigation, the notice shall so state,
and the Department shall issue a subsequent notice of the appropriate time
informing the owner that the vehicle may be reclaimed. No notice shall be
required of removal by the Department where the owner of the vehicle has
contacted the Department within seventy-two hours of such
removal.
[89] (3) When a
vehicle has not been reclaimed within fifteen (15) days of issuance of notice
that it is available to be reclaimed, the Department or its designated agent
shall thereafter send notice to all registered lienholders of the vehicle,
informing such lienholders that the vehicle may be reclaimed upon proof of right
to possession and payment of all outstanding fees, charges and fines, and that
the vehicle may be sold at public auction if not reclaimed within fifteen (15)
days. A copy of this notice shall be sent to the owner of
record.
[90] (4) In any case
involving immobilization of a vehicle pursuant to this Section, a notice shall
be placed on such vehicle, in a conspicuous manner, sufficient to warn any
individual that such vehicle has been immobilized and that any attempt to move
such vehicle may result in damage
thereto.
[91]