(1) If a
vehicle is in violation of the time restrictions of *RCW 46.55.010(13), it may be impounded by a registered tow truck
operator at the direction of a law enforcement officer or other
public official with jurisdiction if the vehicle is on public
property, or at the direction of the property owner or an agent
if it is on private property. A law enforcement officer may also
direct the impoundment of a vehicle pursuant to a writ or court
order.
(2) The person requesting a private impound or a law
enforcement officer or public official requesting a public
impound shall provide a signed authorization for the impound at
the time and place of the impound to the registered tow truck
operator before the operator may proceed with the impound. A
registered tow truck operator, employee, or his or her agent may
not serve as an agent of a property owner for the purposes of
signing an impound authorization or, independent of the property
owner, identify a vehicle for impound.
(3) In the case of a private impound, the impound
authorization shall include the following statement: "A person
authorizing this impound, if the impound is found in violation of
chapter 46.55 RCW, may be held liable for the costs incurred by
the vehicle owner."
(4) A registered tow truck operator shall record and keep in
the operator's files the date and time that a vehicle is put in
the operator's custody and released. The operator shall make an
entry into a master log regarding transactions relating to
impounded vehicles. The operator shall make this master log
available, upon request, to representatives of the department or
the state patrol.
(5) A person who engages in or offers to engage in the
activities of a registered tow truck operator may not be
associated in any way with a person or business whose main
activity is authorizing the impounding of vehicles.
[1999 c 398 § 4; 1989 c 111 § 8; 1987 c 311 § 5; 1985 c 377 § 8.]
NOTES:
*Reviser's note: RCW 46.55.010 was amended by 2005 c 88 § 2, changing subsection (13) to subsection (14).