Personal Property Impound Regulations

Disclaimer:

The following information is provided to ensure compliance with Anchorage Municipal Code §
9.54.020 and related regulations. Jon Towing operates in full compliance with these regulations. For the most
current and complete legal information, please refer to the official Anchorage Municipal Code

§ 9.54.020. Private Party Impounds (PPI) and nonconsensual tows from private and other specified areas.

  • Persons with an interest in private property used for parking may protect their property from
    unauthorized parking by utilizing private party impound (PPI) towing services to remove vehicles parked
    in violation of this section. A tow operator shall not provide PPI or nonconsensual tows from private
    areas unless the tow operator has a valid and current PPI endorsement issued by the municipal clerk in
    accordance with chapter 10.54.
  • Vehicles parked in violation of this section may be removed, towed or stored by a licensed PPI tow
    operator subject to compliance with this chapter and chapter 10.54.
  • It is unlawful for a person to park or cause to be parked a motor vehicle in:
    1. A private area which is adjacent to a commercial enterprise (defined in this chapter to include
    condominium, townhouse and multifamily dwelling uses when land use code requires ten or more off-street parking spaces),
    and which is owned or controlled by another person, if such private area has
    been signed, posted or otherwise clearly designated as a private area in accordance with signage
    requirements in section 9.54.050 and the person has parked the vehicle in violation of such signage.
    2. A private area which is not adjacent to a commercial enterprise, and which is owned or controlled by
    another person, without the express permission of such person.
  • It is unlawful for a person to park or cause to be parked a motor vehicle in a manner that:
    1. Blocks the way of ingress or egress of a motor vehicle to a private area owned or controlled by
    another person.
    2. Blocks or impedes access to a dumpster. For purposes of this subsection, the term “dumpster” means
    a bulk refuse container of at least one cubic yard capacity designed to be emptied only mechanically by
    a refuse collection vehicle.
  • Towing of vehicles; incident number requirement. Prior to commencing a nonconsensual tow or private
    party impound (PPI), a towing operator shall request an incident number from the Anchorage Police
    Department. Incident numbers shall be reported on any invoice or correspondence related to the towed
    vehicle.
    (AO No. 83-49; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 165, 11-22-11, eff. 12-22-11; AO No. 2014-137(S), § 1, 11-18-14)

§ 9.54.050. Tow-away from privately owned areas; signage, prerequisites and procedures for towing, storage and release.

  • No vehicle may be towed from a privately owned area adjacent to a commercial enterprise (defined in
    this chapter to include condominiums, townhouses or multifamily dwellings when land use code
    requires ten or more off-street parking spaces) for violation of section 9.54.020 C.1. unless the person
    who controls, owns or possesses that area has conspicuously posted the area with signs as follows:
    1. Signs shall be no smaller than 30 inches by 30 inches, with letters a minimum of two inches high; and
    2. The sign or signs indicating the vehicle to be towed was parked unlawfully has been in place for at
    least 24 continuous hours, whether a new or replacement sign.
    3. Signs shall be posted in conspicuous locations clearly visible to a person seated in a vehicle parked in
    the prohibited area during the day and during the night by use of artificial illumination, reflective
    materials or other method. For off-street parking on privately owned areas, public parking facilities or
    lots that provide more than 20 parking spaces, and for a mobile home park, at least one sign shall be
    posted and clearly readable by the driver of a motor vehicle at each driveway into the parking lot,
    facility or mobile home park, not more than 10 feet from the public right-of-way or driveway.
    4. Signs shall:
    a. Describe the private area in which parking is prohibited;
    b. Describe the prohibited activity (parking in certain places, parking during certain hours, parking only
    for patrons, etc.); and
    c. State either:
    i. The telephone number for the tow operator at which information about a towed vehicle’s location
    may be obtained, and the street address where the vehicle may be retrieved; or
    ii. A telephone number maintained by the property owner at which information about a towed vehicle’s
    location may be obtained, and the property owner shall be responsible to:
    (A) Maintain the telephone number 24 hours per day, every day without exception;
    (B) Have the telephone number answerable by a natural person whom has information on where
    vehicles were towed and stored, or by an updated recording with current name(s), phone number(s)
    and street address(es) for the tow operator(s) providing tow services. If answered by a recording, the
    caller shall be able to leave a message and there shall be a call back response or other effective contact
    within one hour to identify the storage yard name, tow operator, contact number and street address
    where a towed vehicle may be retrieved.
  • 1. It is the responsibility of the private property owner to ensure signs posted on private property
    adjacent to a commercial enterprise are in compliance with this section. When a private party impound
    (PPI) or nonconsensual tow is completed and the signage violates this section or is not posted, the
    property owner is subject to a civil fine under section 9.54.080.
    2. Tow operators shall not provide towing services to the owner of private property adjacent to a
    commercial enterprise under Section 9.54.020 C.1. in the absence of posted signage in compliance with
    and as required by this section.
  • Private property impound (PPI) tow without signage. A tow operator shall not provide PPI or
    nonconsensual tow service from private property not adjacent to a commercial enterprise without first
    obtaining written authorization from the property owner, agent or lessee to provide the service. A
    person who owns, possesses or controls a private area not adjacent to a commercial enterprise where a
    vehicle is parked unlawfully as described in section 9.54.020 may cause such vehicle to be removed and
    towed to a vehicle storage yard at the expense of the owner of the vehicle.
    1. In a mobile home park, the owner of the park may only cause such vehicle to be removed and towed
    from the common areas and roadways of the mobile home park, and not from individual mobile home
    spaces and areas.
  • Initiating a private party impound (PPI) or nonconsensual tow. A tow operator conducting a PPI or
    nonconsensual tow of a vehicle parked unlawfully as described in section 9.54.020 shall comply with this
    section.
    1. Prior to preparing a vehicle for tow service, a tow operator shall:
    a. Take a photograph of the vehicle, digital or otherwise, with the violation shown in the photograph;
    b. Inform the Anchorage Police Department of the intent to initiate a PPI or nonconsensual tow, remove
    a vehicle under this section, and request an incident number from APD. The tow operator shall obtain
    affirmative confirmation of the incident number from APD as soon as practicable but may commence
    preparations for the tow prior to such confirmation. Incident numbers shall be reported on any invoice
    or correspondence related to the towed vehicle;
    c. Ensure the written authorization of the private property owner or agent has been obtained in
    accordance with subsection C.; and
    d. Connect, hookup, attach or load the vehicle to be towed in compliance with 13 AAC 04.275 and other
    state or municipal law or regulation, exercising due care not to damage the vehicle to be towed.
    2. If the vehicle owner, operator or agent returns to the scene:
    a. While the tow operator is on scene but the vehicle to be towed is not loaded, the tow operator shall
    immediately inform the vehicle owner or agent of the amount of the unloaded on scene or curb release
    fee, and that the vehicle owner or agent is entitled to release of the vehicle upon payment. The tow
    operator shall release the vehicle upon payment of the unloaded on scene or curb release fee, provided
    the vehicle owner or operator is able to immediately cure the unlawful parking condition.
    b. When the vehicle to be towed is loaded, the tow operator shall halt the tow and immediately inform
    the vehicle owner or agent of the amount of the loaded on scene or curb release fee, and that the
    vehicle owner or agent is entitled to release of the vehicle upon payment of the loaded on scene or curb
    release fee without additional charge. If the vehicle owner or agent fails to provide payment in any one
    of the forms a tow operator is required to accept under subsection 9.54.030, the tow operator may
    proceed to tow the vehicle to a storage yard.
    i. Unloaded means the tow operator has arrived on scene but the vehicle to be towed is not loaded.
    ii. Loaded means the vehicle is attached to a commercial tow vehicle, and any of the wheels lifted off the
    ground or on a dolly or the deck of a flatbed. Attachment of all safety equipment, chains and tow lights
    is not necessary to be considered loaded for purposes of the on scene or curb release fee.
    c. The tow operator shall allow the vehicle owner, operator or agent reasonable access to the vehicle to
    retrieve personal items on the scene of the tow, if the owner, operator or agent does not obtain an on
    scene or curb release. The tow operator shall not charge a fee for this access as detailed in
    subsection 9.54.030 A.4. The tow operator may secure the vehicle prior to allowing such access.
  • Transport and storing. A towing operator that removes a vehicle under this section shall immediately
    after the towed vehicle is placed into storage, and in any event not more than one hour after the arrival
    of the towed vehicle at a vehicle storage yard or facility, inform APD, by phone, facsimile, electronic or
    digital communications as directed by APD, of the incident number and the following information:
    1. The make, model year, if known, color and body type of the vehicle.
    2. The license plate number of the vehicle.
    3. The vehicle identification number (VIN number) of the vehicle.
    4. The business name and location of the storage facility where the vehicle is kept.
    5. The location from which the vehicle was towed and the time of its removal.
    6. Any other information which APD may reasonably request to aid in the identification of the vehicle or
    its owner.
  • Vehicle storage and release or disposal. The vehicle may be retained at the storage facility until the
    owner thereof pays the towing, transport and storage service charges lawfully claimed by the towing
    operator. A tow operator shall not refuse to release a vehicle immediately upon payment of towing and
    storage charges in accordance with AS 28.10.502, regardless if other charges remain unpaid, except as
    provided in subsection J. The vehicle may be sold in the manner provided by law, if the vehicle is
    unclaimed. At the time an owner or agent appears to retrieve a vehicle from a vehicle storage yard, the
    tow operator shall provide the owner or agent the following:
    1. A copy of the written authorization, the photograph(s), and an invoice for payment of towing and
    storage fees. The invoice shall include the following information:
    a. The make, model, VIN and license plate number of the vehicle towed;
    b. The grounds for towing the vehicle;
    c. The time of day the vehicle was first observed or reported to the tow operator as parked in violation
    at or adjacent to the private property;
    d. The time of day the vehicle was towed; and
    e. An itemized list of fees owed.
    2. A copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing.
  • Failure to have the required signage at the time and location where the tow was initiated or to provide
    the required documentation to the vehicle owner at the time the owner retrieves the vehicle is grounds
    for a private cause of action for a full refund of the towing and storage fees and recovery of any other
    damages as provided by law.
  • Tow operators shall provide a copy of the Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing to the vehicle
    owner or agent immediately upon initial contact. A tow operator shall stock each tow vehicle, storage
    yard and business location with sufficient quantity of copies. If a tow operator maintains a website for
    its business, the website shall prominently display on the main page(s) a hyperlink to a copy of the
    Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Towing.
  • Animals inside of a towed vehicle shall be reasonably cared for and the tow operator shall make
    affirmative attempts to contact and notify the vehicle owner or agent of the animal and allow its
    retrieval. If the vehicle owner or agent has not confirmed an intent to retrieve the animal expeditiously
    within four hours of arrival at the storage yard or facility, the tow operator shall contact Anchorage
    Animal Care and Control to take possession of the animal. The tow operator shall maintain a record of
    the time and contact with Anchorage Animal Care and Control.
  • The tow operator and impound yard are under no obligation to release a vehicle from on scene, curb
    release, or the storage yard to a person who clearly intends to operate the vehicle while under the
    influence of alcohol or drugs.

(AO No. 83-49; AO No. 85-31; AO No. 2005-84(S), § 2, 1-1-06; AO No. 2011-113(S), § 169, 11-22-11, eff. 12-22-
11; AO No. 2014-137(S), § 1, 11-18-14; AO No. 2015-24 , § 1, 3-24-15)

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