Pub. L. 92-196, tit. VII, sec. 705

Sec. 705. Section 6 of the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925 (43 Stat. 1119; D.C. Code, sec. 40–603) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: “(k) (1) Any unattended motor vehicle found parked at any time upon any public highway of the District of Columbia against which there are two or more outstanding or otherwise unsettled traffic violation notices or against which there have been issued two or more warrants, may, by or under the direction of an officer or member of the Metropolitan Police force or the United States Park Police force, either by towing or otherwise, be removed or conveyed to and impounded in any place designated by the Commissioner, or immobilized in such manner as to prevent its operation, except that no such vehicle shall be immobilized by any means other than by the use of a device or other mechanism which will cause no damage to such vehicle unless it is moved while such device or mechanism is in place. “(2) It shall be the duty of the officer or member of the police force removing or immobilizing such motor vehicle, or under whose directions such vehicle is removed or immobilized, to inform as soon as practicable the owner of an impounded or immobilized vehicle of the nature and circumstances of the prior unsettled traffic violation notices or warrants, for which or on account of which, such vehicle was impounded or immobilized. In any case involving immobilization of a vehicle pursuant to this subsection, such member or officer shall cause to be placed on such vehicle, in a conspicuous manner, notice 85 Stat. 658sufficient to warn any individual to the effect that such vehicle has been immobilized and that any attempt to move such vehicle might result in damage to such vehicle. “(3) The owner of such impounded or immobilized motor vehicle, or other duly authorized person, shall be permitted to repossess or to secure the release of the vehicle upon the depositing of the collateral required for his appearance in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to answer for each violation for which there is an outstanding or otherwise unsettled traffic violation notice or warrant.”