Draft chapter 70: Traffic Code Enforcement Procedures

§ 70.06 Impounding Vehicles

The 2026 draft's § 70.06 beside the current code's § 70.06: removed words are struck through, added words underlined.

Comparison with a draft: not adopted. The archive holds no public hearing, ordinance or vote adopting the recodified Code through the October 20, 2026 meeting packet. Until one is adopted, every page here compares the consolidated code with a draft that can still change: the revised draft with the October 6 changes is not in the archive.

A comparison with the August 2026 draft recodification prepared by Iowa Codification for the City. The draft has not been adopted and can still change; the current code (unofficial compilation) governs until a recodified Code is adopted. Matches between sections are made by machine from the texts and are reviewed where uncertain.

Wording changed minor wording (97% same words)

What changed

1. A peace officer is hereby authorized to remove, or cause to be removed, a vehicle from a street, public alley, public parking ~~lot~~ lot, or highway to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by the City, under the circumstances hereinafter enumerated:
1. A. Disabled Vehicle. When a vehicle is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and the person or persons in charge of the vehicle are by reason of physical injury incapacitated to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. ~~321.236 [1])~~ 321.236(1))
2. B. Illegally Parked Vehicle. When any vehicle is left unattended and is so illegally parked as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. ~~321.236 [1])~~ 321.236(1))
3. D. Snow Removal. When any vehicle is left parked in violation of a ban on parking during snow removal operations.
4. E. Parked Over Limited Time Period. When any vehicle is left parked for a continuous period in violation of any limited parking time. If the owner can be located, the owner shall be given an opportunity to remove the vehicle.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. ~~321.236 [1])~~ 321.236(1))
5. 2. Costs. In addition to the standard penalties provided, the owner or driver of any vehicle impounded for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be required to pay the reasonable cost of towing and storage.
~~(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])~~

Word-level comparison of the current text with the draft's; spacing and paragraph breaks come from the documents' text. Footnotes are left out.

Current code

§ 70.06 Impounding Vehicles

A peace officer is hereby authorized to remove, or cause to be removed, a vehicle from a street, public alley, public parking lot or highway to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by the City, under the circumstances hereinafter enumerated:

1. Disabled Vehicle. When a vehicle is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and the person or persons in charge of the vehicle are by reason of physical injury incapacitated to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])

2. Illegally Parked Vehicle. When any vehicle is left unattended and is so illegally parked as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])

3. Snow Removal. When any vehicle is left parked in violation of a ban on parking during snow removal operations.

4. Parked Over Limited Time Period. When any vehicle is left parked for a continuous period in violation of any limited parking time. If the owner can be located, the owner shall be given an opportunity to remove the vehicle.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])

5. Costs. In addition to the standard penalties provided, the owner or driver of any vehicle impounded for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be required to pay the reasonable cost of towing and storage.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])

2010 Code, Chapter 70 · source page

2026 draft

§ 70.06 Impounding Vehicles

1. A peace officer is hereby authorized to remove, or cause to be removed, a vehicle from a street, public alley, public parking lot, or highway to the nearest garage or other place of safety, or to a garage designated or maintained by the City, under the circumstances hereinafter enumerated:

A. Disabled Vehicle. When a vehicle is so disabled as to constitute an obstruction to traffic and the person or persons in charge of the vehicle are by reason of physical injury incapacitated to such an extent as to be unable to provide for its custody or removal.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236(1))

B. Illegally Parked Vehicle. When any vehicle is left unattended and is so illegally parked as to constitute a definite hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236(1))

D. Snow Removal. When any vehicle is left parked in violation of a ban on parking during snow removal operations.

E. Parked Over Limited Time Period. When any vehicle is left parked for a continuous period in violation of any limited parking time. If the owner can be located, the owner shall be given an opportunity to remove the vehicle.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236(1))

2. Costs. In addition to the standard penalties provided, the owner or driver of any vehicle impounded for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be required to pay the reasonable cost of towing and storage.

August 2026 draft · page 176

Back to draft chapter 70 · All changes

Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.