A. Any police officer who finds a vehicle which he or she has reasonable grounds to believe has been abandoned or is inoperable shall require such vehicle to be removed or cause the same to be removed and placed in storage in any impound lot designed or maintained by the Police Department. The Police Department may perform a public tow from public property or private property; provided, however, that a public tow may only be performed on private property at the request of the owner or lessee of the private property or of the owner or lessee’s agent authorized in writing, or as required for public health, safety, or welfare enforcement. As a condition of a public tow from private property, the owner, lessee or agent shall execute an indemnity and hold harmless agreement approved by the Town Attorney indemnifying and holding the Town harmless against all claims and liability that may arise from such public tow. In addition, the owner, lessee or agent shall pay the costs of towing and processing at the time of the tow pursuant to PMC 12.02.090.

B. Upon ordering an abandoned or inoperable vehicle towed, the Police Department shall ascertain, if possible, whether or not the vehicle has been reported stolen and, if so reported, the Police Department shall take such actions as it deems appropriate in accordance with established procedure. The Police Department shall have the right to recover from the owner its reasonable costs to recover and secure the vehicle.

C. As soon as possible, but in no event later than ten (10) working days after having an abandoned or inoperable vehicle towed, the Police Department shall report the same to the Department of Revenue by first class or certified mail, by personal delivery or by Internet communication, which report shall be on a form prescribed and supplied by the Department of Revenue. The report shall contain the information required in § 42-4-1804(1)(c), C.R.S.

D. The Police Department, upon receipt of an ownership report from the Department of Revenue, shall determine, from all available information and after reasonable inquiries, whether or not the abandoned or inoperable vehicle has been reported stolen and, if so reported, the Police Department shall take such actions as it deems appropriate in accordance with established procedure. The Police Department shall have the right to recover from the owner its reasonable costs to recover and secure the vehicle.

E. The procedure to be followed by the Police Department following receipt of the ownership report from the Department of Revenue shall comply with the provisions of § 42-4-1804(4), C.R.S. A request for hearing shall be made in writing to the Police Department within ten (10) days of the postmark date of sending notice. Such hearing, if requested, shall be conducted pursuant to PMC 12.02.060. (Ord. 558 §1, 2007; Amended Ord. 792 §7, 2021)