Chapter 22.15
VEHICLE IMPOUNDMENT UPON ARREST OF DRIVER FOR DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED OR REVOKED

Sections:

22.15.010    Appointment of King County as agent for the City.

22.15.020    Impoundment authorized.

22.15.030    Administrative fee.

22.15.040    Owner of impounded vehicle to be notified.

22.15.050    Redemption of impounded vehicles.

22.15.060    Post-impoundment hearing procedure.

22.15.070    Contracts for towing and storage.

22.15.010 Appointment of King County as agent for the City.

King County and the King County sheriff’s office and/or its designees are appointed and authorized to act as agent of the City in regard to all impoundments and actions permitted by this chapter. (Ord. O2001-82 § 1; Ord. O2000-52 § 62(1))

22.15.020 Impoundment authorized.

(1) If a driver is arrested for a violation of driving while license suspended (“DWLS”) in the third degree, as defined in RCW 46.20.342, or if the driver is arrested for driving with a license suspended in another state, the vehicle is subject to impoundment.

(2) If the driver is arrested for a violation of DWLS second degree, as defined in RCW 46.20.342, the vehicle is subject to impoundment for 30 days.

(3) If the driver is arrested for a violation of DWLS first degree, as defined in RCW 46.20.342, the vehicle is subject to impoundment for 30 days.

(4) If a driver is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.61.502, Driving under the influence, or RCW 46.61.504, Physical control of vehicle under the influence, the vehicle is subject to impoundment. (Ord. O2013-344 § 1; Ord. O2003-123 § 1; Ord. O2001-82 § 1; Ord. O2000-52 § 62(2))

22.15.030 Administrative fee.

If a vehicle is impounded pursuant to the provisions of this section, an administrative fee as set forth by resolution shall be paid to the City of Sammamish finance department, prior to redemption of the vehicle as provided by this section. The administrative fee shall be for the purpose of offsetting, to the extent practicable, the cost to the City of implementing, enforcing, and administering this section and must be deposited in an appropriate account. (Ord. O2001-82 § 1; Ord. O2000-52 § 62(3))

22.15.040 Owner of impounded vehicle to be notified.

(1) Not more than 24 hours after impoundment of any vehicle, the tow truck operator shall mail a notice by first class mail to the last known address of the legal and registered owner(s) of the vehicle, as may be disclosed by the vehicle identification number, and as provided by the Washington State Department of Licensing. The notice shall include the name of the impounding tow firm, its address, and telephone number. The notice shall include the location and time of the impound, and by whose authority the vehicle was impounded. The notice also shall include written notice of the right of redemption and opportunity for a hearing to contest the validity of the impound or the amount of towing and storage charges pursuant to this chapter, as set forth on a form provided by the King County sheriff’s office. The notice shall state the mandatory length of the impound. The notice shall state that a person who desires to redeem an impounded vehicle at the end of the mandatory period must, within five days of the impound, at the request of the tow truck operator, pay a security deposit to the tow truck operator of not more than one-half of the applicable impound storage rate for each day of the proposed suspended license impound to ensure payment of the costs of the removal, towing, and storage of the vehicle pursuant to RCW 46.55.120 (1)(b). The notification shall state that if the security deposit is not posted within five days of the impound, the vehicle will be processed and sold at auction as an abandoned vehicle pursuant to RCW 46.55.130. The notice shall set forth the requirements of SMC 22.15.050 regarding the payment of the costs of removal, towing, and storage as well as providing proof of payment of the administrative fee and proof of satisfaction of any penalties, fines, or forfeitures before redemption. The notice must also state that the registered owner is ineligible to purchase the vehicle at the abandoned vehicle auction, if held.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a rental car business may immediately redeem a rented vehicle it owns by payment of the costs of removal, towing, and storage, whereupon the vehicle will not be held for impound. The officer directing the impound shall notify the rental car business as soon as practicable of the impound.

(3) If the date on which a notice required by subsection (1) of this section is to be mailed falls upon a Saturday, Sunday, or postal holiday, the notice may be mailed on the next day that is neither a Saturday, Sunday, nor a postal holiday.

(4) Similar notice shall be given to each person who seeks to redeem an impounded vehicle, except that if a vehicle is redeemed prior to the mailing of notice, then notice need not be mailed. The tow truck operator shall maintain a record evidenced by the redeeming person’s signature that the notification was provided. (Ord. O2003-123 § 2; Ord. O2001-82 § 1; Ord. O2000-52 § 62(4))

22.15.050 Redemption of impounded vehicles.

Vehicles impounded pursuant to this chapter shall be redeemed only under the following circumstances, and pursuant to agreement between the City and the King County sheriff’s office:

(1) A person redeeming an impounded vehicle must, prior to redemption, establish that he or she has a valid driver’s license and insurance. An impounded vehicle may be redeemed only by the following persons:

(a) The registered owner;

(b) A person authorized in writing by the registered owner; or

(c) A person who has purchased the vehicle from the registered owner and who produces ownership or written authorization and signs a receipt therefor.

(2) The impounded vehicle shall be released upon payment of the administrative fee to the City and the costs of impoundment to the tow truck operator. An impounded vehicle can be released only pursuant to a written order from the King County sheriff’s office or a court.

(a) Costs of impoundment shall include the costs of towing, storage, or other services rendered during the course of towing, removing, impounding, or storing any such vehicle.

(b) The tow truck operator shall accept payment as provided in RCW 46.55.120(1)(f), as now or hereafter amended.

(c) In addition, if an impounded vehicle was operated by the registered owner when it was impounded, the vehicle must not be released to any person until the registered owner establishes with the King County sheriff’s office that any penalties, fines, or forfeitures owed by him or her have been satisfied, or a time payment agreement (in a form approved by the court) has been entered into providing for the satisfaction of all said penalties, fines or forfeitures. Washington State Department of Licensing license reinstatement fees shall not be treated as penalties, fines, or forfeitures for purposes of this section.

(3)  Any person seeking to redeem an impounded vehicle has a right to a hearing before an administrative hearings officer to contest the validity of an impoundment or the amount of removal, towing, and storage charges or administrative fee.

(a) Any request for a hearing shall be made in writing, on a form provided by the King County sheriff’s office and signed by such person.

(b) Any request for a hearing shall be received by the King County sheriff’s office within 10 days (including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) of the latter of:

(i) The date the notice of right of redemption and opportunity for hearing was mailed to the person; or

(ii) The date the notice was given to the person by the tow truck operator.

(c) Upon receiving a valid request for a hearing, the King County sheriff’s office shall assign one or more administrative hearing officers to conduct post-impoundment hearings.

(d) Such hearing shall be provided as follows:

(i) If all of the requirements to redeem the vehicle, including expiration of any period of impoundment under SMC 22.15.020, have been satisfied, then the impounded vehicle shall be released immediately and a hearing shall be held within 90 days of the written request for hearing.

(ii) If all of the requirements to redeem the vehicle, including expiration of any period of impoundment under SMC 22.15.020, have not been satisfied, then the impounded vehicle shall not be released until after a hearing that shall be held within 10 business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), but no later than the next available court date, of the written request for hearing.

(iii) Any person seeking a hearing who has failed to request such hearing within the time specified in this section may petition the King County sheriff’s office for an extension to file a request for hearing. Such extension shall only be granted upon the demonstration of good cause as to the reason(s) the request for hearing was not timely filed. For the purpose of this chapter, “good cause” shall be defined as circumstances beyond the control of the person seeking the hearing that prevented such person from filing a timely request for hearing. In the event such extension is granted, the person receiving such extension shall be granted a hearing in accordance with this chapter.

(iv) If a person fails to file a timely request for hearing and no extension to file such a request has been granted, the right to a hearing is waived, the impoundment and the associated costs of impoundment are deemed to be proper, and neither the City nor county shall be liable for removal, towing, and storage charges arising from the impoundment.

(4) The Sammamish police chief or designee is authorized to release an impounded vehicle prior to the expiration of any period of impoundment upon petition of the spouse or domestic partner of the registered owner of the vehicle. The petition must be based on economic or personal hardship to such spouse or domestic partner resulting from the unavailability of the vehicle.

(a) In determining whether to grant such release, the Sammamish police chief or designee shall consider the threat to public safety that may result from the release of the vehicle, including, but not limited to, the driver’s criminal history, driving record, license status, and access to the vehicle.

(b) If such release is authorized, the person redeeming the vehicle must satisfy the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) of this section with the exception of payment of the penalties, fines, or forfeitures owed by the driver, and with the exception of the administrative fee.

(5) The Sammamish police chief, or designee, is authorized to release an impounded vehicle prior to the expiration of any period of impoundment upon the petition of the registered owner, provided the registered owner was not the operator of the vehicle at the time of the impound. The petition must be based on economic or personal hardship or equity. If such release is authorized, the registered owner must satisfy the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) of this section in order to redeem the vehicle. (Ord. O2017-444 § 1 (Att. A); Ord. O2006-195 § 1; Ord. O2001-82 § 1; Ord. O2000-52 § 62(5))

22.15.060 Post-impoundment hearing procedure.

Hearings requested pursuant to SMC 22.15.050 shall be held by an administrative hearings officer who shall determine whether the impoundment was proper and whether the associated towing and storage and administrative fees charged were proper.

(1) At the hearing, the King County sheriff’s office may produce any relevant evidence to show that either the impound or fees, or both, were proper. An abstract of the driver’s driving record is admissible without further evidentiary foundation and is prima facie evidence of the status of the driver’s license, permit or privilege to drive and that the driver was convicted of each offense shown on the abstract. In addition, a certified vehicle registration of the impounded vehicle is admissible without further evidentiary foundation and is prima facie evidence of the identity of the registered owner of the vehicle.

(2) At the hearing, the person who requested the hearing may produce any relevant evidence to show that either the impound or fees or both were not proper.

(3) If the impoundment is found to be proper, the administrative hearings officer shall enter an order so stating. In the event that the costs of impoundment (removal, towing, storage, and administrative fees) have not been paid or any other applicable requirements of SMC 22.15.050, subsections (1) and (2) of this section not satisfied, or any period of impoundment has not expired, the administrative hearings officer’s order shall also provide that the impounded vehicle shall be released only after payment of any fines imposed on any underlying traffic violations.

(4) If the impoundment is found to be improper, the administrative hearings officer shall enter an order so stating and order the immediate release of the vehicle. If the costs of impoundment have already been paid, the administrative hearings officer shall enter judgment against the county and in favor of the person who has paid the costs of impoundment in the amount of the costs of the impoundment, which are removal, towing, storage, and administrative fees, plus interest at the rate of 12 percent per year from the date that person paid the costs, and the county shall comply with the order. If the costs of impoundment, which are removal, towing, and storage, have not been paid, the hearings officer shall enter an order directing the county to pay the costs to the tow truck operator, and the county shall comply with the order. The county and City are not liable for damages if the police officer who ordered the impound relied in good faith and without gross negligence, on the records of the Department of Licensing in ascertaining whether the operator of the vehicle had a suspended or revoked driver’s license.

(5) In the event that the administrative hearings officer finds that the impound was proper, but that the removal, towing or storage fees charged for the impoundment were improper, the administrative hearings officer shall determine the correct fees to be charged. If the costs of impoundment have been paid, the administrative hearings officer shall enter a judgment against the county and in favor of the person who has paid the costs of impoundment for the amount of the overpayment plus interest at the rate of 12 percent per year on the overpayment from the date that person paid the costs, and the county shall comply with the order. The tow truck operator is liable to the county for the amount of the overpayment and interest at the rate of 12 percent per year. The tow truck operator shall make the payment to the county no later than 60 days after the tow truck operator receives notice of the requirement to pay. The county may bring an action in the King County district court against the tow truck operator to recover the overpayment plus interest at the rate of 12 percent per year.

(6) No determination of facts made at a hearing under this chapter shall have any collateral estoppel effect on a subsequent criminal prosecution and shall not preclude litigation of those same facts in a subsequent criminal prosecution.

(7) An appeal of the administrative hearings officer’s decision shall be conducted according to, and is subject to the procedures of this chapter. In accordance with RCW 46.55.240(1)(d), a decision made by an administrative hearings officer may be appealed to the King County district court for final judgment. The hearing on the appeal under this section shall be de novo. A person appealing such a decision must file a request for an appeal in district court within 15 days after the decision of the administrative hearings officer and must pay a filing fee in the same amount required for the filing of a suit in district court. If a person fails to file a request for an appeal within the time specified by this section or does not pay the filing fee, the right to an appeal is waived and the administrative hearings officer’s decision is final. (Ord. O2001-82 § 1; Ord. O2000-52 § 62(6))

22.15.070 Contracts for towing and storage.

The King County sheriff’s office and the City manager and/or designees are authorized and directed to enter into appropriate agreements and to promulgate rules and regulations to provide for the fair and efficient administration of any contract(s) awarded to registered tow truck operators pursuant to this chapter. Such contracts shall be at no cost to the county and the City and shall provide that the tow truck operator may recover the costs of towing and storage only from the person seeking to redeem the impounded vehicle, or from the proceeds of sale of an unclaimed vehicle pursuant to RCW 46.55.130, and that the county and City shall not be responsible for payment of such costs except upon order of the administrative hearings officer pursuant to SMC 22.15.060. (Ord. O2001-82 § 1; Ord. O2000-52 § 62(7))