§ 10.72.180. Garage operator's fee.

A.

By resolution, the city council, from time to time, may impose a fee on garage operators who accept for storage any motor vehicle impounded under authority of Chapter 10, Division 11 (commencing with Section 22650) of the California Vehicle Code. Said fee shall be determined based on the city's actual cost of impounding the vehicle and, when so imposed, shall be deemed part of the garage operator's cost of towing and storing the vehicle within the meaning of Vehicle Code Section 22851, or any amendments thereto. The fee may be expressed as a fixed sum per removal or as a percentage of the actual cost of removal.

B.

The garage operator shall collect the fee prior to returning possession of the vehicle to the owner or authorized agent. The garage operator may authorize the police department to collect the fee on behalf of the operator. In that event, the operator is authorized to release the vehicle upon receiving written notice from the police department that the fee has been paid, provided all other costs subject to the lien imposed by the Vehicle Code Section 22851 have been paid.

(Ord. 90-8 §1).