Compton Municipal Code § 12-4 Impounding Vehicles

[Ord. #856, § 3463]

Any vehicle which is parked or left standing in or upon any private property without the actual or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession of such property, so as to block or obstruct any driveway or other means of vehicular ingress or egress from such property, may be removed and placed in any garage maintained by the City or in any public garage or other place of safety for safekeeping by any police officer upon the complaint of such owner or person in possession.

[Ord. #856, § 3464]

Whenever an officer removes a vehicle from private property pursuant to the authority granted by subsection 12-4.1 of this section, and the officer knows or is able to ascertain from the registration records in the vehicle or from the registration records of the Department of Motor Vehicles of the State the name and address of the owner thereof, such officer immediately shall give, or cause to be given, notice in writing to such owner of the fact of such removal, the reasons therefor, and the place to which such vehicle has been removed. In the event any such vehicle is stored in a public garage, a copy of such notice shall be given to the proprietor of such garage.

[Ord. #856, § 3465]

Whenever any vehicle has been removed to a garage pursuant to the provisions of subsection 12-4.1 of this section, the keeper of such garage shall have a lien dependent upon possession for his compensation for towage and for caring for and keeping safe such vehicle for a period not exceeding 90 days and, if such vehicle is not recovered by the owner within said 90 days, or the owner is unknown, such garage keeper may satisfy his lien in the manner provided by the Vehicle Code and the Civil Code of the State.

[Ord. #856, § 3466; Ord. #1237; 11-9-2021 by Ord. No. 2340; 6-22-2021 by Ord. No. 2334; 11-9-2021 by Ord. No. 2340]

Any vehicles which have been parked or left standing on any street, alley, or public way for a period longer than 72 consecutive hours may be removed by any police officer or authorized regular City employee provided such officer or employee complies with the provisions of Section 22652 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California to permit the efficient flow of traffic or ensure public safety and convenience.

[Added 11-9-2021 by Ord. No. 2340]

a. The City Council shall, by ordinance or resolution, from time to time determine and fix the amount to be assessed as fees applicable to the release of stored or impounded vehicles.

b. An administrative fee will be assessed on vehicles stored or impounded for reasons including, but not limited to:

1. Vehicles that have been abandoned;

2. Vehicles that are found on the street, and have not been registered for more than one year, and constitute a hazard to traffic or public safety;

3. Vehicles that create parking hazards;

4. Vehicles that block driveways and no other remedies are available;

5. Vehicles with more than four outstanding parking tickets that constitute a hazard to traffic or public safety;

6. Vehicles that are operated by unlicensed drivers and it is impracticable to lawfully relocate the vehicle to another location; or

7. The operators and/or owners are taken into custody and it is not practical to legally park and lock the vehicles.