Immobilization or impoundment of vehicles having unpaid parking tickets.

Greensboro Code of Ordinances § 16-78

in effect

Sec. 16-78. - Immobilization or impoundment of vehicles having unpaid parking tickets. (a) Authorized. The police chief or his/her/their designee may immobilize by the use of wheel locks, or tow and impound, any vehicle which is illegally parked, and for which there are three or more outstanding, unpaid and overdue parking tickets for a period of ninety (90) days. Any such vehicle shall also be deemed to be an abandoned vehicle in violation of article III of chapter 17. However, any parking ticket which is the subject of an approved payment plan, no payment thereunder being delinquent, shall not be considered outstanding, unpaid and overdue for purposes of this section. (b) Attachment of wheel lock. If a wheel lock is attached to a vehicle, a notice shall be affixed to the windshield or other part of the vehicle so as to be readily visible. The notice shall warn that the vehicle has been immobilized and that any attempt to move the vehicle may result in damage thereto. The city shall not be responsible for any damage to an immobilized illegally parked vehicle resulting from unauthorized attempts to free or move that vehicle. An immobilization fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be charged for the removal of the wheel lock. The notice shall also state the total amount of civil penalties due for parking tickets which are overdue and unpaid and attributable to such vehicle, and the fifty dollars ($50.00) immobilization fee to be charged. The address and telephone number to be contacted to pay the charges to have the wheel lock removed shall also be listed. (c) Impoundment. (1) If the civil penalties due and an immobilization fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) as provided in subsection (b) are not paid within twenty-four (24) hours of the attachment of the wheel lock, such vehicle may be towed and impounded by or at the direction of the police chief or his/her/their designee, to any public or private impoundment lot. If a private contractor tows and stores such vehicle, there shall be imposed against the vehicle the private contractor's actual charges for towing and storing such vehicle; in all other cases there shall be imposed against the vehicle those charges for towing and storage provided by section 16-39. (2) Once a vehicle has been impounded, the police chief or his/her/their designee shall mail, or cause to be mailed, a notice of impoundment to the registered owner and lienholders, if any are known, at the address or addresses reported to the city by the state department of motor vehicles. (d) Redemption of impounded vehicles. Upon payment of all civil penalties for unpaid and overdue parking tickets issued for a vehicle and of all other applicable charges authorized by this section, including immobilization, towing and storage fees, the vehicle shall be released from impoundment to the owner or any other person entitled to claim possession of the vehicle. (e) Disposition of towed vehicles. If a vehicle has been towed it may be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this Code relating to the disposition of abandoned vehicles. (f) Request for hearing. The registered owner or person entitled to possession of any vehicle which has been immobilized or impounded pursuant to this section may submit a request for a hearing to the police chief or his/her/their designee by certified mail within seven (7) days from the receipt of the notice provided for in subsection (c)(2) herein. If a request for a hearing is not made within the allotted time, the right to a hearing shall have been waived. If a hearing is requested, a statement shall be sent to such person to inform him/her/them of the time and place for the hearing, of the basis for the vehicle's immobilization or impoundment, of the rules and regulations governing the hearing, of the opportunity to present evidence as to why such vehicle should not have been immobilized, towed or impounded, and of the right to have counsel present at the hearing. The police chief or his/her/their designee shall serve as the hearing officer, shall conduct a hearing and shall prepare a written report within three (3) days of the hearing stating his/her/their conclusion as to whether the vehicle was properly immobilized, towed or impounded pursuant to this section, and the reasons and evidence underlying his/her/their conclusion. If it is concluded that the vehicle should not have been immobilized, towed or impounded, then any improper charges shall be cancelled, or, if paid, rebated. A copy of the written report shall be furnished to the person who requested the hearing. Any aggrieved party may appeal the police chief's decision to district court by filing appropriate judicial pleadings. (g) Identification of vehicles. For the purpose of determining whether an illegally parked vehicle has had issued against it three (3) or more outstanding, unpaid and overdue parking tickets for a period of ninety (90) days, it shall be sufficient if the license plate number of the illegally parked vehicle and the license plate number of the vehicle having received the tickets are the same. (h) Removal of wheel lock. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove from a vehicle a wheel lock placed thereon pursuant to this section or to remove from impoundment any vehicle placed therein pursuant to this section without all civil penalties and applicable charges having first been paid. Pursuant to G.S. § 14-4(b) a violation of this chapter shall be an infraction with a penalty of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00). (Ord. No. 07-255, § 1, 11-5-07; Ord. No. 20-163, § 3, 12-15-20; Ord. No. 22-122, 6-21-22)

Source: City of Greensboro, North Carolina, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/greensboro/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16MOVETR_ARTIIADEN_DIV3PAVI_S16-78IMIMVEHAUNPATIFetched: 11/1/2026