§ 46-5. Minimum impound fee for impounded vehicles.

(a)

The Quitman County Sheriffs Office may impound any vehicle and charge a minimum $100.00 impound fee for any vehicle lawfully towed and impounded for violations of O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-30, 16-13-31, 16-13-32 or 40-6-391.

(b)

Whenever a person has been arrested for a violation of O.C.G.A. §§ 16-13-30, 16-13-31, 16-13-32 or 40-6-391, committed while driving, moving or operating a vehicle, the arresting agency may impound the vehicle that the person was driving, moving or operating at the time of arrest until such time as the arrestee or owner claiming the vehicle meets the conditions for release in compliance with the ordinance from which this section derives.

(c)

A vehicle impounded pursuant to this section shall not be released unless the person claiming the vehicle:

(1)

Presents a valid driver's license, proof of ownership or lawful authority to operate the motor vehicle, and proof of valid motor vehicle insurance for that vehicle.

(2)

The vehicle is owned or leased by the arrestee, the arrestee gives written permission to another person to operate the vehicle, and the conditions for release in subsection (c)(1) of this section are met.

(3)

Pays the mandatory $100.00 impound fee attached to each vehicle towed and impounded by the Quitman County Sheriffs Office for violation of code directly to the Georgetown-Quitman County General Fund. The impound fee must be paid in cash, or by a cashier's check or money order made payable to the Sheriff of Quitman County, Georgia to be disbursed by the general fund in a monthly report.

(d)

This section requires that all fees collected for impounded vehicles will be placed in the Georgetown-Quitman County General Fund and these funds shall be designated for the funding of public safety as designated by the county commission.

(Ord. No. 01-09, 3-10-09)