§ 515-9. Impoundment and immobilization.

(a)

A vehicle involved in three or more parking infractions in which judgments or default judgments have been filed with the Clerk of the Municipal Court pursuant to Section 515-7 of this Chapter is subject to impoundment by law enforcement officers of the City of Cincinnati or their agents. Impoundment pursuant to this section is permitted without regard to whether the vehicle, at the time of impoundment, is legally parked. The owner of a vehicle impounded pursuant to this Chapter shall be liable for impoundment fees and storage charges as provided by Section 513-7 of this Code.

(b)

A vehicle impounded under paragraphs (a) or (c) of this section shall be released to the owner upon the owner presenting a valid certificate of title to the vehicle to the Clerk of the Parking Violations Bureau and upon the owner either paying the fines, penalties, fees and costs due on the parking infractions issued or outstanding or payment of the judgments or default judgments which led to the impoundment, or posting a bond equal to the amount of said fines, penalties, fees and costs. In no case, however, shall the owner of a vehicle impounded pursuant to this Chapter be required to post a bond in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) to obtain release of the vehicle.

(c)

Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, a vehicle parked, stopped, or standing on a public street or highway in commission of a parking infraction is subject to impoundment.

(d)

A vehicle involved in three or more parking infractions in which judgments or default judgments have been filed with the Clerk of the Municipal Court pursuant to Section 515-7 of this Chapter is subject to immobilization. A vehicle may be immobilized by law enforcement officers or parking enforcement officers of the City of Cincinnati or parking enforcement officers acting pursuant to any parking modernization agreement or vehicle immobilization services agreement with the City. Immobilization pursuant to this section is permitted without regard to whether the vehicle, at the time of immobilization, is legally parked.

(e)

A vehicle immobilized under paragraph (d) of this section shall be released to the owner or the person lawfully authorized to be in control of the vehicle upon the owner or person lawfully authorized to be in control of the vehicle paying the fines, penalties, fees and costs, including the removal fee described under paragraph (f) of this section, due on the parking infractions issued or outstanding or payment of the judgments or default judgments, which led to the immobilization, or posting a bond equal to the amount of said fines, penalties, fees and costs. In no case, however, shall the owner of a vehicle immobilized pursuant to this Chapter be required to post a bond in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) to obtain release of the vehicle.

(Ordained by Ord. No. 422-1992, eff. Sept. 16, 1992; Emer. Ord. No. 058-2013, § 9, eff. March 6, 2013; Emer. Ord. No. 152-2017, § 11, eff. July 1, 2017; Emer. Ord. No. 166-2018, § 4, eff. July 1, 2018; Emer. Ord. No. 168-2018, § 6, eff. July 1, 2018)