The immobilization or removal, impoundment, and disposal of motor vehicles for multiple nonmoving traffic violations. (FE)

Under current law, any county or municipality may enact an ordinance prohibiting unregistered motor vehicles on highways and providing for the immobilization, removal, impoundment, and disposal of these vehicles. The bill authorizes a municipality or county to enact an ordinance providing for the immobilization (typically with a “car boot”) or towing, impoundment, and disposal of vehicles owned by habitual parking violators and for which all of the following apply:

1. The municipality or county has issued tickets to the owner of the motor vehicle for five or more parking violations that occurred more than 60 days previously and for which the owner has neither paid each ticket nor scheduled an appearance in court in response to each unpaid ticket.

2. The municipality or county has mailed to the last-known address of the owner at least one notice that provides certain information, including the manner in which each parking ticket may be paid or contested. The notice must also inform the owner that the owner's vehicles may be immobilized or towed and impounded.

Under the bill, a properly enacted ordinance authorizes any parking enforcer to have a vehicle immobilized on, or towed and impounded from, any highway or public parking facility. The parking enforcer must follow certain procedures for notification of law enforcement and for providing information about the immobilization to the vehicle owner.

Under the bill, the owner of a motor vehicle that is immobilized or towed and impounded may secure release of the motor vehicle by paying any fee associated with the immobilization or towing and impounding of the vehicle and paying all forfeitures for the unpaid parking tickets or scheduling an appearance in court. If the requirements for release of the vehicle are not timely satisfied, the bill authorizes disposal of the vehicle. Any motor vehicle immobilized or impounded must remain immobilized or impounded until lawfully claimed or disposed of. The owner of the vehicle is responsible for all charges associated with immobilizing, removing, impounding, and disposing of the motor vehicle.