12/18/1985 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

Home Browse Search

G.O. 500.13 SUBJECT: TOWING OF MOTOR VEHICLES �s PURPOSE: This General Order establishes the procedure and criteria for the towing of motor vehicles by the Mashpee Police'-Department. PROCEDURE: 1. Police personnel shall only tow motor vehicles based on the following policy and only with the prior approval of the Watch and/or Acting Watch Commander. A. Incidental to a Lawful Arrest for an offense wherein the operator or owner is being taken into custody and his motor vehicle is vio- lating any provision of M.G.L. Ch85 S2c, Ch 40 S22 or Article 11A or wherein such arrested party requests (at his expense) said vehicle be towed to insure the safety of the vehicle. B. Recovered Stolen Motor Vehicles wherein the communications officer has determined that the bona-fide owner or his authorized agent is not pre- pared or readily available to claim the vehicle at the location of the recovery. C. Evidence and Search and Seizure, wherein the vehicle constitutes a sub- stantial portion of the investigation of a criminal offense or wherein police officers have probable cause to believe the vehicle contains contraband, fruits or instruments of a crime that can be lawfully seized with or without a warrant. D. Suspected. Stolen Vehicle that from reasonable examination and investi- gation appear to have been stolen but as yet have not been reported as such. Vehicles which are found in a location considerably distant from . the address of the registered owner of the vehicle and whose physical condition (popped ignition, ransacked glove compartment, hot wired igni- tion) is such that it would be a reasonable assumption to believe that the vehicle has been stolen may be towed provided that: 1. Officers who discover such a vehicle shall attempt to contact the registered owner; and 2. It appears likely that the vehicle will be subject to additional damage including strippint if it remains unattended at the location of the finding. E. Accidents or property damage wherein the vehicle is in such condition that such further operation would pose significant danger to the operator other motorist or pedestrians except that persons involved in accidents shall have a reasonable opportunity to locate their own wrecker providing that the said vehicle is not in violation of any provisions of Ch 40 s22 or Article Ila of the M.G.L. F. Abandonment of a motor vehicle wherein the vehicle shall be removed and disposed of as provided for in M.G.L Ch 90 s22c. G. PRIVATE PROPERTY-Private Way (Ch 266 s120d as amended by Ch 537 Acts of 1974) 1. The person in lawful control of the private way or property has a notice posted forbidding parking there or else personally forbid the operator from parking there and 2. Before the vehicle is towed, notify the police department giving