VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION

Salt Lake City Code tit. 5, div. II, ch. 5.85

in effect

Salt Lake City Code § 5.85.010 DEFINITIONS

5.85.010: DEFINITIONS: As used in this chapter: FEE: Any charge, price, service, or thing of value. VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION: Immobilizing a vehicle without the vehicle owner's consent by the use of any device and generally releasing the vehicle only upon payment of a fee. (Ord. 51-05 § 1, 2005)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.85.020 LICENSE REQUIRED

5.85.020: LICENSE REQUIRED: A. It is unlawful for any person to engage in vehicle immobilization within Salt Lake City limits unless the person has a valid Salt Lake City license granted in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. B. The fee for the license shall be as set forth in the Salt Lake City consolidated fee schedule. C. A person who already has a valid Salt Lake City business license for an existing business shall notify the City licensing authority in writing of the intent to engage in vehicle immobilization. Performing vehicle immobilization without receiving City authorization following submission of such notice shall be grounds for the revocation or suspension of the existing business license. The procedure for a Police Department investigation provided in section 5.85.040 of this chapter shall be followed except that a Police Department investigation will not be conducted if the person's existing business license was issued following a Police Department investigation. The fees, if any, associated with such notice shall be as set forth in the Salt Lake City consolidated fee schedule. (Ord. 46-16, 2016)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.85.030 INSURANCE REQUIRED

5.85.030: INSURANCE REQUIRED: No vehicle immobilization shall be conducted unless there is on file with the City License Office a certificate of liability insurance executed by an insurance company authorized to do business in this State. The insurance shall be in the minimum amount of twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) and shall cover any damages caused to any vehicle or vehicle owner by the licensee. (Ord. 51-05 § 1, 2005)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.85.040 INVESTIGATION BY POLICE DEPARTMENT

5.85.040: INVESTIGATION BY POLICE DEPARTMENT: Each application for a license shall be referred to the Police Department for investigation. Except as hereinafter set forth, the following shall be a bar to issuance or renewal of a permit: A. Any conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, narcotics or dangerous drugs, or of property damage unless a period of not less than five (5) years shall have elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement for such offense, whichever is later; or B. Any conviction of a felony for any reason unless a period of not less than ten (10) years shall have elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement for such offense, whichever is later. C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, if the Mayor or the Mayor's designated Hearing Officer receives letters or testimony at a hearing, as provided in chapter 5.02 of this title, proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the applicant has reformed his/her moral character so as to pose no threat to members of the public, the license shall be issued. If the applicant is still on parole or probation, a letter from the parole officer or probation officer recommending the applicant be granted a license, together with the reasons for the recommendation, shall be required. In the event of any criminal citation or information pending against the applicant, the police department may recommend that a license not be issued or renewed prior to a hearing held in accordance with chapter 5.02 of this title. (Ord. 51-05 § 1, 2005)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.85.050 OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

5.85.050: OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: A. Every licensee and employee of the licensee shall wear either: 1) a readily identifiable shirt, blouse, or other top article of clothing with the name of the licensee and the first name of the employee contained thereon and readable from a distance of six feet (6') or 2) a prominently visible identification badge on the front of his or her clothing with the name of the licensee and the first name of the employee contained thereon and readable from a distance of six feet (6'). B. Every licensee shall accept a charge placed upon a valid credit or debit card as payment for the fee if the person who is redeeming the vehicle prefers to pay with a card instead of cash. The immobilized vehicle shall be promptly released upon request and payment. C. No fee greater than eighty dollars ($80.00) may be charged for release of a vehicle that has not been moved from the spot where it was parked prior to being immobilized or impounded. An itemized bill shall be provided. No fee at all may be charged by the licensee for release of a vehicle or otherwise if the driver returns to the vehicle before immobilization of the vehicle is completed and the driver promptly removes the vehicle from the premises. D. No licensee may immobilize a vehicle unless the licensee has a current valid written contract with the property owner authorizing the licensee to immobilize or impound vehicles parked upon their property without permission. All licensees or their employees shall have in their possession on the site where the vehicle is immobilized either: 1) a copy of the agreement or 2) a statement of authorization for the licensee signed by the property owner and shall show either said agreement or said authorization upon demand by a city official or upon demand of the person redeeming the vehicle. E. Any equipment used to immobilize a vehicle shall be placed on the driver's side of the vehicle, whenever practicable. F. No licensee may immobilize a vehicle without placing a notice on the driver's door window using words and/or symbols that reasonably inform the driver that the vehicle has been immobilized. G. If a vehicle has been immobilized, it may not be removed from the site sooner than two (2) hours from the time it was immobilized. H. No vehicle may be removed from the site unless it is removed by a towing service licensed by Salt Lake City Corporation. I. No licensee may require the payment of a towing fee or any other fee or charge other than that authorized by subsection C of this section as a condition to releasing an immobilized vehicle. J. If an immobilized vehicle is impounded, no fees of any kind relating to the immobilization may be charged in addition to the towing, storage, or other impoundment fees that may be applicable. K. Any licensee who has no employee on site authorized to release the vehicle must promptly respond to the site, but in no event longer than one-half (1/2) hour of a request for release of a vehicle. The person responding must have full authority to act for the licensee and shall have a copy of the agreement or statement of authorization with them as required by subsection D of this section. (Ord. 51-05 § 1, 2005)

Salt Lake City Code § 5.85.060 SIGN REQUIREMENTS

5.85.060: SIGN REQUIREMENTS: No vehicle may be immobilized without the consent of the vehicle owner unless: A. There is: 1) signage visible to the driver of a vehicle entering the property, and 2) signage visible to the driver from the location where the vehicle is parked. Such signage shall use words and/or symbols that reasonably provide notice that parking without permission or contrary to permission of the property owner or operator will subject the vehicle to being immobilized at the vehicle owner's expense. B. The signs contain such notice on both sides unless one side is blocked by a structure. C. The signs are at least eighteen inches by twenty four inches (18" x 24") in size. D. The lettering for at least the first half of the text on the sign is no smaller than one and one-half inches (11/2") in height, and the lettering for the remainder of the text on the sign is no smaller than one-half inch (1/2") in height. The lettering shall be reflective and against a contrasting background. E. The sign states the dollar amount of the immobilization fee. F. No vegetation or other object obstructs the view of the signage by the driver of a vehicle as the driver enters or leaves the property. G. The sign provides a telephone number that can be called at any time of the day or night to make arrangements for release of the vehicle. (Ord. 51-05 § 1, 2005)

Source: Salt Lake City, Utah, City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/saltlakecityut/latest/saltlakecity_ut/0-0-0-49071Fetched: 11/1/2026