§ 12-31. Same—Authority to remove illegally parked vehicles.

(a)

The county sheriff, or his deputies, the county office of general services, or any other agent or employee designated by the county judge may cause any vehicle illegally parked in a designated county parking space or area to be removed and stored at the expense of the owner or operator of the vehicle.

(b)

The county sheriff, his deputies, the county office of general services, or any other agent or employee designated by the county judge shall have the authority to request a wrecker company to remove an illegally parked vehicle and to direct the storage of such vehicle until the owner or operator reclaims the vehicle. The county judge, pursuant to county purchasing laws, may contract for such wrecker and/or storage services as may be required to enforce the provisions of this division, as amended.

(c)

When the authority to request a wrecker company to remove an illegally parked vehicle is exercised, the owner of the vehicle, and not the county, shall be liable for towing and storage charges. Persons seeking recovery of their vehicles shall deal directly with the wrecker company. The county office of general services or the sheriffs office shall advise the owner or operator of the vehicle as to which wrecker company has possession of said vehicle.

(d)

The wrecker company responding to a call and removing and storing illegally parked vehicles shall make only its usual and customary charges for these services, under this division, or not more than those charges as set out in its contract with the county.

(Ord. No. 215, § 6, 1-23-79; Ord. No. 81-OR-34, Art. 2, 7-28-81)