City Getting into Vehicle Impoundment Business

A new ordinance that paves the way for New Port Richey to set up its own vehicle impoundment program got the  green light Tuesday night.

Council members  voted to give the ordinance final approval during their June 18 meeting. The city's law is modeled after a similar one already in place in nearby Port Richey.

Interim New Port Richey Police Chief Kim Bogart said Port Richey has been “very successful” in using its impound program to generate revenue and improve enforcements. He reiterated Tuesday that Port Richey’s program generated $100,000 last year. He added that it could generate even more this year.

Bogart has said he doesn’t intend to implement the impound program immediately, but that with New Port Richey considering a special magistrate program, getting the impound ordinance in place made sense.

He has said he is is considering where vehicles could be stored.  

Under the ordinance, reasons a vehicle can be impounded include if it is used in connection to a crime or is a danger to the public.  

Owners of impounded vehicles could face fines, but city leaders have not decided on a fee schedule would be decided at a later date.  In addition to the civil penalty, owners could also face paying the cost of towing and storing the vehicle and citations for breaking other ordinances and laws.