Seattle Mun. Code § 16.36.010 Authority to impound.
16.36.010 - Authority to impound.
The Chief of Police may take immediate possession and/or impound and remove any vessel, water sport craft, or obstruction, when:
A. The operator or master of the same reasonably appears incapable of safely operating the same or appears incapable of directing the disposition of the same;
B. The operator or master of the same refuses to sign a citation, or refuses or neglects to obey an order of the Chief of Police to proceed from or to an area following a citation or in an emergency;
C. The operator or master operates a vessel, water sport craft or obstruction in a negligent, reckless or other manner so as to endanger the safety of others or to unreasonably interfere with the navigation or access to moorage of other vessels, and the Chief of Police believes such operation of the vessel or obstruction would continue unless possession be taken of the same;
D. The vessel, water sport craft or obstruction appears unsafe for water transportation; or
E. The vessel, water sport craft or obstruction appears abandoned, or is anchored or moored in an anchorage, waterway or submerged street area after expiration, cancellation, or violation of a permit, or in violation of this title without a permit seventy-two (72) hours after an order to remove the same has been given by the Chief of Police as provided in Section 16.32.020 D or E; or
F. The vessel, water sport craft or obstruction is obstructing a launch ramp area or public dock, or has remained at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation for one (1) hour longer than the maximum mooring or anchoring time; and remove the same, using such methods as in his judgment will prevent unnecessary damage to said vessel, water sport craft or obstruction and/or assign the removal and impounding of the vessel, water sport craft or obstruction to a private corporation.
(Ord. 120023 § 69, 2000: Ord. 109227 § 4(part), 1980: Ord. 100171 § 16(part), 1971; Ord. 87983, § 72(a), 1959.)