Haines Borough staffers are looking into developing an impound lot for securing junked, abandoned and illegal vehicles.

  Manager David Sosa said the municipality is investigating the feasibility and cost associated with an impound lot.

“There are a number of situations in which a vehicle might have to be impounded and we have a responsibility to ensure we meet with legal requirements. Without this capability there could be vehicles blocking snow plows, evidence that may be questioned due to inappropriate handling, and illegal vehicles taking space on roads,” Sosa said.

  Public facilities director Carlos Jimenez said he has been directed to look at a 6,000-square-foot, unpaved lot at the wastewater treatment plant.

  Discussions of an impound lot arose last winter after the assembly passed a $22 biennial motor vehicle registration tax to raise funds for the disposal of junked and abandoned vehicles. The tax is expected to raise $40,000 per year, but doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2015. The borough is allowed to spend the anticipated revenue before the tax starts.

  The borough bought a $50,000 flatbed tow truck last winter after assembly passage of the tax. Jimenez said the truck currently is being used to transport equipment and materials between job sites and isn’t supposed to be used to tow vehicles until an official tow policy is put in place.

“The creation of a tow policy could result in the ability to move or tow vehicles that are keeping Public Works from removing snow in the winter time,” Jimenez said.

  According to police chief Bill Musser, the impound lot needs to be completely fenced in. A security camera also would be desirable, he said.

  “Until (the police department) has a secure yard that meets legal requirements, impoundments will be few and far between. This doesn’t mean we ignore them, as we will still work to find solutions for those vehicles we have a chance to take care of otherwise,” Musser said.

 Borough officials have said towing and impounding vehicles without the proper equipment and facilities would make the borough potentially liable for damages. “When you take possession of a car, you’re responsible and liable for anything that happens to that car,” Jimenez said.

Aside from the law requiring a secure holding area, having a fence prevents people from removing their vehicles without paying costs associated with the impoundment that the owner is responsible for, Musser said.

  “An impoundment currently depends on the type of impoundment: evidentiary, junk, abandoned or illegal. Each of these have separate requirements for officers to meet in order to do an impoundment and different follow-up requirements. Bottom line is that none of this topic is as simple as people would like to think it is. There are rules and we need to follow the rules,” Musser said.

  Jimenez said he would like to see the fire hall parking lot used for impounding, as it already has a security camera and the building is staffed around the clock by dispatchers.

Jimenez said Public Works only tows one or two cars per year. When a plow encounters a vehicle blocking a route, the driver just plows around the vehicle and leaves a big berm, Jimenez said.

  Jimenez estimated the cost of the project at $25,000 to $30,000 if a fence and security camera are required.