Municipal Code, Complete - City of Santa Barbara

Sections:
10.56.010 Impounding of Miscellaneous
Property in Streets, Etc. Authorized
- Nuisance.
10.56.020 Notice of Impounding.
Chapter 10.56
IMPOUNDING PROPERTY
OBSTRUCTING STREETS
10.56.030 Redemption Charges.
10.56.040 Sale of Unredeemed Property.
10.56.050 Tow Away Provisions.
10.56.060 Emergency Regulations.
10.56.010 Impounding of Miscellaneous Property in Streets, Etc. Authorized - Nuisance.
In the event any property of any description, except a vehicle, whether an animal or other obstruction, shall be
found existing, standing, parked, erected or lying in or upon any part of any public street, avenue, alley, sidewalk,
thoroughfare, parkway, park or other public place within the City in violation of and contrary to any of the rules,
regulations and ordinances of the City that are in effect, it is hereby declared to be a nuisance, and may be removed
and conveyed by or under the direction of the Community Development Director, Public Works Director or a
member of the Police Department, or a duly constituted agent thereof, to a designated place of impounding, to be kept
until redeemed or sold as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 4861, 1994; Ord. 2713 §1(part), 1959; prior Code
§31.111(part).)
10.56.020 Notice of Impounding.
It shall be the duty of the department authorizing the impound immediately following the impounding of such
property, where the ownership is ascertainable, to send through the mails to such owner a letter, stating that such
property is impounded, giving the date and location of its keeping, together with the information that before the
owner or person in charge of the property shall be permitted to remove the same from the custody of the impounding
department, evidence of identity and ownership shall be required together with the fees necessary to cover the cost of
removal, storage and redemption. (Ord. 4861, 1994; Ord. 2713 §1(part), 1959; prior Code §31.111(part).)
10.56.030 Redemption Charges.
All property impounded as provided in this chapter shall be retained until all costs of impounding, giving notice
and redemption shall have been paid. Such charges shall be set by resolution. (Ord. 4861, 1994; Ord. 2713 §1(part),
1959; prior Code §31.111(part).)
10.56.040 Sale of Unredeemed Property.
If the owner or person having custody of such impounded property fails or neglects to call and redeem the same
within five (5) days from the date of giving notice as provided in this chapter, then the department head, or designated
agent authorizing the impound, shall proceed to sell the property at public auction after giving notice of the time and
place of such sale in the same manner as required for the giving of notice of the sale of personal property under
execution, and shall apply the proceeds of such sale: (1) to the payment of the costs and expenses of such sale, (2) to
the payment of the costs and expenses of impounding and storing of the property, and the balance remaining of such
proceeds shall be paid to the person who shall furnish satisfactory evidence of identity and ownership in the property.
(Ord. 4861, 1994; Ord. 2713 §1(part), 1959; prior Code §31.111(part).)
10.56.050 Tow Away Provisions.
The City Council shall have authority to establish tow away zones in the City, by resolution. Where tow away
zones have been established, any vehicle parked or left standing where signs have been posted, giving notice of the
authorized removal of such vehicles, may be removed by any member of the Police Department authorized by the
Chief of Police to do so, in the manner and subject to the requirements of the Vehicle Code. (Ord. 3157 §1, 1966;
prior Code §31.112.)
10.56.060 Emergency Regulations.
Whenever the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, the City Water Superintendent or the Public Works Director
determines that an emergency exists upon any City street or public parking area, and any vehicle is parked in such
manner as to impede the remedy of such an emergency, such officer may cause such vehicle to be removed to the
nearest legal parking area. Upon removal of such vehicle, the person causing the removal shall make every possible
effort to notify the owner of such vehicle of the reason for removal, the time of removal, and the location from and to
which such removal took place. Such notification shall be made to the Police Department in writing within two (2)
hours of such removal.
255 rev. 6/30/07