A. Only the registered owner, a person authorized by the registered owner, or one who has purchased the vehicle from the registered owner, who produced proof of ownership or authorization and signs a receipt therefor, may redeem an impounded vehicle. A person redeeming a vehicle impounded pursuant to this chapter must, prior to redemption, establish that he or she has a valid driver’s license and is in compliance with RCW 46.30.020. A vehicle impounded pursuant to this chapter can be released only pursuant to a written order from the Police Department or a court.

B. Any person so redeeming a vehicle impounded by the City shall pay the towing contractor for costs of impoundment (towing and storage) and shall pay the City an administrative fee prior to redeeming such vehicle. Such towing contractor shall accept payment as provided in RCW 46.55.120(1)(b), as now or hereafter amended. If the vehicle was impounded pursuant to this chapter and was being operated by the registered owner when it was impounded, it may not be released to any person until any penalties, fines, or forfeitures owed by the registered owner have been satisfied. The administrative fee stated in LMC 10.28.030 shall be paid to the Lakewood Finance Department.

C. The Chief of Police or designee is authorized to release a vehicle impounded pursuant to this chapter, prior to the expiration of any period of impoundment, upon petition of the spouse of the driver based on economic or personal hardship to such spouse resulting from the unavailability of the vehicle, and after consideration of the threat to public safety that may result from release of the vehicle, including but not limited to, the driver’s criminal history, driving record, license status and access to the vehicle. If such release is authorized, the person redeeming the vehicle still must satisfy all other requirements of this section. A vehicle may be released prior to the expiration of the impound period if the owner of the vehicle was not the driver, the owner did not know the driver’s license was suspended or revoked, and the owner has not received a prior release under this section or under LMC 10.28.010(I). Other than for the reasons expressed above, in order to avoid discriminatory application, early release of an impounded vehicle shall be denied in all other circumstances without discretion.

D. Any person seeking to redeem a vehicle impounded as a result of a traffic arrest, pursuant this chapter, has a right to a hearing, before the Police Chief or designee, as the administrative hearings officer, to contest the validity of an impoundment or the amount of towing and storage charges, if such request for hearing is in writing, in a form approved by the Chief of Police and signed by such person, and is received by the Chief of Police within 10 days (including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) of the latter of the date the notice was mailed to such person pursuant to LMC 10.28.040, or the date the notice was given to such person by the registered tow truck operator, pursuant to RCW 46.55.120(2)(a). Such hearing shall be provided as follows: