Police are authorized under limited circumstances to impound vehicles. It is important to inventory the contents of an impounded vehicle so as to safeguard the owner's property, to protect the City against claims of lost or stolen property, and for the safety of the police.

VEHICLE: means every device, including a motorized bicycle, in, upon or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn upon a street or highway, except devices other than bicycles moved by human power.

Officers may impound vehicles when authorized to do so by Municipal Ordinance 303.08(a). Under no circumstances will a vehicle be impounded and inventoried as a pretext for an investigatory search of that vehicle. Whenever a vehicle is impounded, the contents will be inventoried pursuant to the procedures below.

Officers must request a tow truck prior to inventorying the contents of the vehicle.

The vehicle's condition and a detailed inventory of valuable contents will be documented on the Department's standardized impound form. The inventory will include all areas of the vehicle, including the glove box, trunk, and any unlocked closed containers within the vehicle. Locked containers may be opened and inventoried if a key or combination is readily available, otherwise, the locked container will simply be described and noted as a locked container on the inventory form.

Officers should conduct the inventory prior to the towing of the vehicle if safety, operational, and weather conditions permit, otherwise, the inventory will be conducted at the place of impoundment.

Items may be seized from the vehicle which are either contraband, evidence, or potential hazards. Where practicable, the owner or possessor of the vehicle will be given a receipt for any items seized.

Pursuant to Municipal Ordinance 303.08(b), the registered vehicle owner shall forthwith be notified of the fact of the removal and impounding of the vehicle, the reasons therefore, the place of storage, and the procedure for redemption of the vehicle.

A vehicle may be released from impoundment to any person who has complied with the requirements in Municipal Ordinance 303.08(b), to wit, appearing at the Police Division and furnishing satisfactory evidence of identity and ownership or right of possession, and, payment of all towage and storage charges.