Chapter 10.38
IMPOUNDMENT OF VEHICLES DRIVEN BY DRIVERS WITH SUSPENDED LICENSES OR FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Sections:
10.38.010 Removal by police officer.
10.38.020 Removal by police officer upon arrest of driver for driving under the influence.
10.38.050 Owner of impounded vehicle to be notified.
10.38.060 Redemption of impounded vehicles.
10.38.070 Post-impoundment hearing procedure.
10.38.080 Rules and regulations.
10.38.010 Removal by police officer.
A. Whenever the driver of a vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 or 46.20.345, the vehicle may be subject to summary impoundment at the direction of a police officer.
B. If the vehicle was impounded because the driver was arrested for a violation of driving while license suspended (DWLS) in the third degree, as defined in RCW 46.20.342(l)(c), and the records of the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) show the driver has no prior convictions of RCW 46.20.342 or other similar local ordinance, the impounded vehicle may be released as soon as all requirements of SLMC 10.38.040 and 10.38.060(A) are met.
C. If the vehicle was impounded because the driver was arrested for a violation of DWLS in the third degree, and the records of the DOL show that the driver has one or more prior convictions of a violation of RCW 46.20.342 or similar local ordinance within the past five years, the vehicle may be impounded for 30 days.
D. If the vehicle was impounded because the driver was arrested for DWLS in the first or second degree, as defined in RCW 46.20.342(1)(a) or 46.20.342(1)(b), and the records of the DOL show that the driver has no prior convictions for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 or similar local ordinance within the past five years, the vehicle may be impounded for 30 days.
E. If the vehicle was impounded because the driver was arrested for DWLS in the first or second degree, as defined in RCW 46.20.342(l)(a) or 46.20.342(1)(b), and the records of the DOL show that the driver has one prior conviction for a violation of RCW 46.20.342(1)(a) or 46.20.342(1)(b) or similar local ordinance within the past five years, the vehicle may be impounded for 60 days.
F. If the vehicle was impounded because the driver was arrested for DWLS in the first or second degree, as defined in RCW 46.20.342(l)(a) or 46.20.342(l)(b), and the records of the DOL show that the driver has two or more prior convictions for a violation of RCW 46.20.342(l)(a) or 46.20.342(l)(b) or similar local ordinance within the past five years, the vehicle may be impounded for 90 days.
G. If the vehicle was impounded because the driver was arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.345, the vehicle may be impounded for 30 days.
H. When an arrest is made for a violation of RCW 46.20.342, if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle and the driver of the vehicle is not the owner of the vehicle, before the summary impoundment directed under subsection (A) of this section, the police officer shall attempt in a reasonable and timely manner to contact the owner of the vehicle and may release the vehicle to the owner if the owner is reasonably available, as long as the owner was not in the vehicle at the time of the stop and arrest and the owner has not received a prior release under this section or under SLMC 10.38.060.
I. A rental car business or a motor vehicle dealer or lender with a perfected security interest may immediately redeem a vehicle it owns that has been impounded pursuant to this section by payment of the costs of removal, towing and storage. Upon such payment the vehicle will not be held for the period of impoundment stated in this section. (Ord. 1270 § 1, 2018).
10.38.020 Removal by police officer upon arrest of driver for driving under the influence.
A. Mandatory, Summary Impound.
1. When a driver of a vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, the vehicle is subject to summary impoundment and, except for a commercial vehicle or farm transport vehicle under subsection (C)(3) of this section, the vehicle must be impounded. With the exception of the 12-hour hold mandated under this section, the procedures for notice, redemption, storage, auction, and sale shall remain the same as for other impounded vehicles under this chapter.
2. If the police officer directing that a vehicle be impounded under this section has:
a. Waited 30 minutes after the police officer contacted the police dispatcher requesting a registered tow truck operator and the tow truck responding has not arrived; or
b. If the police officer is presented with exigent circumstances such as being called to another incident or due to limited available resources being required to return to patrol;
then in such case the police officer may place the completed impound order and inventory inside the vehicle and secure the vehicle by closing the windows and locking the doors before leaving.
3. If a police officer directing that a vehicle be impounded under this section has secured the vehicle and left it pursuant to subsection (A)(2) of this section, then neither the police officer nor the city of Soap Lake shall be liable for any damages to or theft of the vehicle or its contents that occurs between the time the officer leaves and the time that the registered tow truck operator takes custody of the vehicle, or for the actions of any person who takes or removes the vehicle before the registered tow truck operator arrives.
B. Redemption When Driver Is Registered Owner.
1. When a driver of a vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and the driver is a registered owner of the vehicle, the tow truck operator and/or the tow truck operator’s storage facility shall not release or allow the vehicle to be redeemed within a 12-hour period following the time the impounded vehicle arrives at the registered tow truck operator’s storage facility as noted in the registered tow truck operator’s master log, unless there are two or more registered owners of the vehicle or there is a legal owner of the vehicle that is not the driver of the vehicle. The tow truck operator and/or the tow truck operator’s storage facility may release or allow the impounded vehicle to be redeemed to a registered owner who is not the driver of the vehicle, or a legal owner who is not the driver of the vehicle, after the vehicle arrives at the registered tow truck operator’s storage facility as noted in the registered tow truck operator’s master log, and after the requirements of SLMC 10.38.040 and 10.38.060 are met.
2. When a driver of a vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and the driver is a registered owner of the vehicle, the police officer directing the impound shall notify the driver that the impounded vehicle may not be redeemed within a 12-hour period following the time the impounded vehicle arrives at the registered tow truck operator’s storage facility as noted in the registered tow truck operator’s master log, unless there are two or more registered owners or there is a legal owner who is not the driver of the vehicle. The police officer directing the impound shall notify the driver that the impounded vehicle may be redeemed by either a registered owner or legal owner, who is not the driver of the vehicle, after the impounded vehicle arrives at the registered tow truck operator’s storage facility as noted in the registered tow truck operator’s master log, and after the requirements of SLMC 10.38.040 and 10.38.060 are met.
C. Redemption When Driver Is Not Registered Owner.
1. When a driver of a vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and the driver is not a registered owner of the vehicle, the impounded vehicle may be redeemed by a registered owner or legal owner, who is not the driver of the vehicle, after the impounded vehicle arrives at the registered tow truck operator’s storage facility as noted in the registered tow truck operator’s master log, and after the requirements of SLMC 10.38.040 and 10.38.060 are met.
2. When a driver of a vehicle is arrested for a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504 and the driver is not a registered owner of the vehicle, the police officer directing the impound shall notify the driver that the impounded vehicle may be redeemed by a registered owner or legal owner, who is not the driver of the vehicle, after the impounded vehicle arrives at the registered tow truck operator’s storage facility as noted in the registered tow truck operator’s master log, and after the requirements of SLMC 10.38.040 and 10.38.060 are met.
3. If the vehicle is a commercial vehicle or farm transport vehicle and the driver of the vehicle is not the owner of the vehicle, before the summary impoundment directed under subsection (C)(1) of this section, the police officer shall attempt in a reasonable and timely manner to contact the owner of the vehicle and may release the vehicle to the owner if the owner is reasonably available, as long as the owner was not in the vehicle at the time of the stop and arrest.
4. The registered tow truck operator shall notify the agency that ordered that the vehicle be impounded when the vehicle arrives at the registered tow truck operator’s storage facility and has been entered into the master log starting the 12-hour period.
D. Liability of Registered Tow Truck Operator. A registered tow truck operator that releases an impounded vehicle pursuant to the requirements stated in this section is not liable for injuries or damages sustained by the operator of the vehicle or sustained by third parties that may result from the vehicle driver’s intoxicated state.
E. Farm Transport Vehicle Defined. For purposes of this section, “farm transport vehicle” means a motor vehicle owned by a farmer and that is being actively used in the transportation of the farmer’s or another farmer’s farm, orchard, aquatic farm, or dairy products, including livestock and plant or animal wastes, from point of production to market or disposal, or supplies or commodities to be used on the farm, orchard, aquatic farm, or dairy, and that has a gross vehicle weight rating of 7,258 kilograms (16,001 pounds) or more. (Ord. 1270 § 1, 2018).
10.38.030 Towing and storage.
The chief of police is authorized to prepare specifications for towing and storage of vehicles, including instructions to towing companies, containing such provisions as the chief of police shall deem advisable and not in conflict with this chapter. The specifications shall be subject to the review and approval of the mayor. (Ord. 1270 § 1, 2018).
10.38.040 Administrative fee.
A. If a vehicle is impounded pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, an administrative fee of $100.00 shall be paid prior to the redemption of the vehicle as provided by this chapter.
B. The administrative fee shall be paid to the Soap Lake city clerk’s office and shall be redeemed to the clerk’s office in the manner directed by the city clerk. The administrative fee shall be for the purpose of offsetting, to the extent practical, the cost of the city and its police department for implementing, enforcing and administering the provisions of this chapter and shall be deposited in a designated police department account. (Ord. 1270 § 1, 2018).
10.38.050 Owner of impounded vehicle to be notified.
A. Not more than 24 hours after impoundment of any vehicle, the tow contractor shall mail a notice by first-class mail to the last known legal and registered owners of the vehicle, as may be disclosed by the vehicle identification number, and as provided by the DOL. 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 shall include the 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. The notice shall state the length of the impound.
B. The notice required in subsection (A) of this section shall state that a person who desires to redeem a vehicle impounded 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 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(l)(b).
C. The notification required in subsection (A) of this section shall state that if the security deposit is not posted within five days of the impound the vehicle will immediately be processed and sold at auction as an abandoned vehicle pursuant to RCW 46.55.130(1). The notice shall state the requirements set out in SLMC 10.38.060 regarding the payment of the costs of removal, towing, and storage as well as providing 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.
D. If the date on which a notice required by subsection (A) 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.
E. 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.
F. The Soap Lake police department shall give written notification to the last registered and legal owner that the investigatory hold has been removed, except that if a vehicle is redeemed following notice by telephone and prior to the mailing of notice, then notice need not be mailed. In addition, the police department shall notify the towing contractor, by telephone, fax or in writing, of the authorization to release such vehicle.
G. As provided for in RCW 46.55.120(4), as now stated or hereinafter amended, notwithstanding the statements contained in the notice described above, the legal owner of a vehicle or personal property subject to impound under this section may redeem such property before the start of an auction by payment of the applicable towing, administrative and storage fees, as well as all applicable or necessary fines and interest. (Ord. 1270 § 1, 2018).
10.38.060 Redemption of impounded vehicles.
A. Only the registered owner, a person authorized by the registered owner, or one who has purchased the vehicle from the registered owner, who produces proof of ownership or authorization and signs a receipt therefor, may redeem an impounded vehicle. A person redeeming a vehicle impounded pursuant to this chapter must, prior to redemption, establish that he or she has a valid driver’s license and is in compliance with RCW 46.30.020. A vehicle impounded pursuant to this chapter can be released only pursuant to a written order from the police department or a court.
B. Any person so redeeming a vehicle impounded by the city shall pay the towing contractor for costs of impoundment (towing and storage) and shall pay the city an administrative fee prior to redeeming such vehicle. Such towing contractor shall accept payment as provided in RCW 46.55.120(1)(b), as now or hereafter amended. If the vehicle was impounded pursuant to this chapter and was being operated by the registered owner when it was impounded, it may not be released to any person until any penalties, fines, or forfeitures owed by the registered owner have been satisfied. The administrative fee stated in SLMC 10.38.040 shall be paid to the Soap Lake city clerk’s office.
C. The chief of police or designee is authorized to release a vehicle impounded pursuant to this chapter, prior to the expiration of any period of impoundment, upon petition of the spouse of the driver based on economic or personal hardship to such spouse resulting from the unavailability of the vehicle, and after consideration of the threat to public safety that may result from release of the vehicle, including, but not limited to, the driver’s criminal history, driving record, license status and access to the vehicle. If such release is authorized, the person redeeming the vehicle still must satisfy all other requirements of this section. A vehicle may be released prior to the expiration of the impound period if the owner of the vehicle was not the driver, the owner did not know the driver’s license was suspended or revoked, and the owner has not received a prior release under this section or under SLMC 10.38.010(H). Other than for the reasons expressed above, or as provided in SLMC 10.38.020, in order to avoid discriminatory application, early release of an impounded vehicle shall be denied in all other circumstances without discretion.
D. Any person seeking to redeem a vehicle impounded as a result of a traffic arrest, pursuant to this chapter, has a right to a hearing, before the police chief or designee, as the administrative hearings officer, to contest the validity of an impoundment or the amount of towing and storage charges, if such request for hearing is in writing, in a form approved by the chief of police and signed by such person, and is received by the chief of police within 10 days (including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) of the later of the date the notice was mailed to such person pursuant to SLMC 10.38.050, or the date the notice was given to such person by the registered tow truck operator, pursuant to RCW 46.55.120(2)(a). Such hearing shall be provided as follows:
1. If all the requirements to redeem the vehicle, including expiration of any period of impoundment under SLMC 10.38.010, have been satisfied, then the impounded vehicle shall be released immediately, and a hearing as provided for in SLMC 10.38.070 shall be held within 90 days of the written request for hearing.
2. If all of the requirements to redeem the vehicle, including expiration of any period of impoundment under SLMC 10.38.010, have not been satisfied, then the impounded vehicle shall not be released until after the hearing which, pursuant to SLMC 10.38.070, shall be held within 10 business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) of the written request for hearing.
3. Any person seeking a hearing who has failed to request such hearing within the time specified in SLMC 10.38.070 may petition the chief of police 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 purposes of this section, 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.
4. If a person fails to file a timely request for hearing, and an extension to file such a request has not been granted, the right to a hearing is waived, the impoundment and the associated costs of impoundment are deemed to be proper, and the city shall not be liable for towing and storage charges arising from the impoundment.
5. In accordance with RCW 46.55.240(l)(d), a decision made by the police chief or designee, as administrative hearings officer, may be appealed to the Soap Lake municipal court for final judgment. The hearing on the appeal, under this subsection, shall be de novo. A person appealing such a decision must file a request for an appeal in the municipal 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 the Grant County 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. 1270 § 1, 2018).
10.38.070 Post-impoundment hearing procedure.
Hearings requested pursuant to SLMC 10.38.060 shall be held by the police chief or designee, as administrative hearings officer, who shall determine whether the impoundment was proper, and whether the associated towing, storage, and administrative fees were proper.
A. At the hearing, 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, police officers may testify as to whom they believe to be the legal or registered owner of the vehicle and the basis or source of the information upon which they base this belief.
B. If the impoundment is found to be proper, the police chief or designee, as administrative hearings officer, shall enter an order so stating. In the event that the costs of impoundment (towing, storage, and special fees) have not been paid, or any other applicable requirements of SLMC 10.38.060 have not been satisfied, or any period of impoundment under SLMC 10.38.010 has not expired, the administrative hearings officer’s order shall also provide that the impounded vehicle shall be released only after payment to the city of any fines imposed on any underlying traffic infraction, satisfaction of any other applicable requirements of SLMC 10.38.060, after payment of the costs of impoundment to the towing company, and after the expiration of any period of impoundment under SLMC 10.38.010. In the event that the police chief or designee, as administrative hearings officer, grants time payments, the city shall be responsible for paying the costs of impoundment to the towing company. The police chief or designee, as administrative hearings officer, shall grant time payments only in cases of extreme financial need, and where there is an effective guarantee of payment.
C. If the impoundment is found to be improper, the police chief or designee, as 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 police chief or designee, as administrative hearings officer, shall notify the city to reimburse the person who has paid the costs of impoundment for the amount of overpayment and any filing fee.
D. In the event that the police chief or designee, as administrative hearings officer, finds that the impound was proper, but that the towing, storage, and/or special 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 notify the city to reimburse the person who has paid the costs of impoundment for the amount of overpayment and any filing fee.
E. No determination of facts made at a hearing, under this section, 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.
F. An appeal of the administrative hearings officer’s decision in the municipal court shall be subject to and conducted according to the procedures of this section. (Ord. 1270 § 1, 2018).
10.38.080 Rules and regulations.
The mayor, in consultation with the city clerk and the chief of police, shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with this chapter to provide for the fair and efficient administration of this chapter and to provide for the fair and efficient administration of any vehicle impoundment, redemption, or release or any impoundment hearing under this chapter. (Ord. 1270 § 1, 2018).