61C - Towing Motor Vehicles and Inventory Procedures - 2019

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61C – Towing Motor Vehicles and Inventory Procedures Policy & Procedure Page 6 of 8 bylaw Chapter 192-23 states, “It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle, other than one acting in an emergency, to park said vehicle on any street or any municipal off-street parking area for a period of time longer than one hour between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. of any day except in official governmental capacity.” 2. Exemptions. Any vehicle specifically mentioned in M.G.L. Chapter 40, section 22D shall not be subject to removal. These vehicles include those owned by the Commonwealth or a political subdivision thereof, the United States and bearing the distinctive number plate or otherwise conspicuously marked as so owned or registered, or any vehicle registered to a foreign diplomat or consular officer. 3. As with all other towing situations, officers shall only tow a motor vehicle when authorized to do so by a Sergeant or higher-ranking officer. The vehicle shall also be towed by an approved towing agency. 4. Reasonable efforts should be made whenever possible to locate an owner / driver to have vehicles moved to correct issues rather than being towed (even if the violation is addressed by ticketing, verbally advising, etc.) D. Tow and hold policy 1. Parking Violations – Code of Lexington, Chapter 192, section 9: In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 90, section 20A½, the Department may tow and hold any motor vehicle, which has three or more unpaid Lexington parking tickets. The following procedures shall be followed when identifying and towing a vehicle. a. The Captain of Operations, Traffic Bureau Manager or a designee, will generate a list of vehicles from the unpaid parking ticket logbook. The list will then be given to the day shift Commanding Officer who will distribute the list at his/her discretion (i.e.: on the computer bulletin board, hot-sheet supplement, etc.) b. When a vehicle is located, the Commanding Officer shall be notified. The C.O. will check with a member of the Traffic Bureau who will then verify the status of each ticket. If the tickets are confirmed as unpaid, then a Sergeant or higher- ranking officer may authorize the tow of the vehicle. All towing will be done by an approved towing agency. c. The towing agency will be instructed to hold the vehicle until this Department authorizes the release. 2. Generally, no other situation shall warrant the "tow and hold" of a vehicle unless approved by the Commanding Officer.