Part 2 – General Conditions Warranting Impoundment
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-6 (2026)
§ 31-6 Vehicles obstructing traffic.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Prohibited conduct.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to use City streets to park, stop, store, or operate a vehicle or part thereof in such a manner as to obstruct or impede the free flow of traffic thereon or the movement of pedestrians.
(2)
Determination by the Commissioner that such a vehicle is actually obstructing traffic as aforesaid shall be considered prima facie evidence of a violation hereof.
(b)Removal of vehicle.
(1)
The Commissioner is authorized to cause such vehicle to be removed immediately so as to clear the streets.
(2)
Such removal may be:
(i)
to another part of the same street;
(ii)
to a side street; or
(iii)
effected in the manner hereinafter provided for impounded and abandoned motor vehicles.
History: Ord. 69-343
History: Ord. 86-772
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-7 (2026)
§ 31-7 Vehicles illegally parked, etc.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Prohibited conduct.
(1)
It is unlawful for any person to park, stand, or stop a vehicle or part of a vehicle on any street, lane, or alley:
(i)
during the hours when parking, standing, or stopping is restricted or prohibited; or
(ii)
for longer than the time permitted for parking, standing, or stopping.
(2)
A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor, punishable by the fine specified in Subtitle 36 of <cite data-path="|31">this article</cite>.
(b)Removal of vehicles – Impounding areas.
(1)
In the impounding areas designated in Part 7 of this subtitle, the Department of Transportation shall post conspicuous signs warning the public of the restricted hours and bearing the statement “Cars Towed Away” or “Tow Away Zone”.
(2)
In an impounding area in which the required signs have been clearly posted, the Police Commissioner may cause vehicles that are illegally parked, standing, or stopped to be removed and impounded.
(c)Removal of vehicles — Semitrailers near residence.
(1)
In this subsection, “semitrailer” has the meaning given in <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gtr|11-158">State Transportation Article § 11-158</cite>.
(2)
If a semitrailer, whether attached or detached, is parked, standing, or stopped in violation of <cite data-path="|31|§6-26|(b)">§ 6-26(b) {“Commercial vehicles: Stopping by residence”} of this article</cite>, the Police Commissioner may cause that semitrailer, together with any other vehicle attached to it, to be removed and impounded.
History: Ord. 69-343
History: Ord. 70-925
History: Ord. 75-920
History: Ord. 84-023
History: Ord. 03-591
History: Ord. 15-435
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-8 (2026)
§ 31-8 Abandoned vehicles.LinkCopy Citation
(a)“Department” defined.
In this section, “Department” means:
(1)
the Department of Transportation, if that agency has been designated for these purposes by the Board of Estimates, as provided in State Transportation Article (“Maryland Vehicle Law”) § 25-201(e)(3); or
(2)
otherwise, the Baltimore City Police Department.
(b)Abandonment prohibited.
The abandonment of a vehicle on the streets of the City, on any other public property, or on any private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of that private property is prohibited by State Transportation Article (“Maryland Vehicle Law”) § 25-202, subject to the penalties provided in Maryland Vehicle Law Title 27.
(c)Removal of vehicle — on public property.
If a vehicle has been abandoned on a street or any other public property, the Department may have the vehicle removed as provided in this subtitle.
(d)Removal of vehicle — on private property.
(1)
If a vehicle has been abandoned on private property, the Department shall first ascertain who owns or controls the property and make a reasonable effort to discover whether the vehicle is parked or stored on the property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the property.
(2)
The vehicle is deemed abandoned and may be towed or otherwise removed, as provided for vehicles found abandoned on public property, if:
(i)
by reasonable investigation, the Department determines that the vehicle is parked on the property without the consent of the owner or person in control;
(ii)
the owner or person in control cannot be located within a reasonable period of time; or
(iii)
the storage of the vehicle is in violation of the zoning laws or regulations of the City as applied to that property.
History: Ord. 69-343
History: Ord. 71-1162
History: Ord. 83-1000
History: Ord. 99-421
History: Ord. 06-347
History: Ord. 15-435
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-9 (2026)
§ 31-9 Vehicles in accidents.LinkCopy Citation
When a motor vehicle has been involved in an accident or other disablement so that:
(1)
it cannot be operated under its own power; or
(2)
the owner or operator thereof is unable to operate it; or
(3)
such vehicle is obstructing traffic,
the Commissioner is authorized to cause such vehicle to be removed to the auto pound hereinafter referred to or put in some other place where it will not obstruct, interfere with, or impede the free flow of traffic.
History: Ord. 69-343
History: Ord. 70-806
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-10 (2026)
§ 31-10 Recovery of stolen, etc., vehicles.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Removal of vehicle.
When the Commissioner recovers a vehicle which has been reported stolen or has been used without authorization, he may cause such vehicle to be removed to the said auto pound.
(b)Reporting to MVA.
(1)
The Commissioner, upon receiving a report of a stolen vehicle, shall report such alleged theft at once to the Motor Vehicle Administration as required by State law.
(2)
Upon recovery of such car reported stolen, the Commissioner shall at once notify said Motor Vehicle Administration as so required.
History: Ord. 69-343
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-11 (2026)
§ 31-11 Maximum charges.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Towing.
The owner of a vehicle removed or impounded under this Part 2 may be charged a maximum of $150 for the tow of the vehicle unless:
(1)
the vehicle is a commercial vehicle under <cite data-path="|31|§1-1|(f)">§ 1-1(f) {“Definitions – A to L: Commercial Vehicle”} of this article</cite>; or
(2)
the tow of the vehicle:
(i)
requires removal from an embankment, ditch, waterway, trench, hole, or heavily wooded area; or
(ii)
otherwise requires specialized and exceptional services for the vehicle’s removal.
(b)Other charges.
Additional storage fees, administrative fees, and fines for outstanding parking violations may also be charged as allowed by applicable laws and regulations.
History: Ord. 14-266
History: Ord. 14-307
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-12 (2026)
§ 31-12 Unidentifiable vehicles.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Prohibited conduct.
It is unlawful for any person to park a vehicle or part of a vehicle on any street, lane, or alley if the vehicle:
(1)
is not displaying currently valid registration plates; and
(2)
has its VIN obscured so that it cannot be read from outside the vehicle.
(b)Removal of vehicles.
The Commissioner is authorized to cause any vehicle in violation of subsection (a) of this section to be immediately removed and impounded as provided in this subtitle.
History: Ord. 18-195
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-13 to 31-20 (2026)
§§ 31-13 to 31-20LinkCopy Citation
Reserved