The police department, or any member thereof, is authorized to remove and tow away, or have removed and towed away by commercial towing service, any car or other vehicle illegally parked in any place where such parked vehicle creates or constitutes a traffic hazard, blocks the use of a fire hydrant, obstructs or may obstruct the movement of any emergency vehicle, or has been parked in one location for such length of time as to appear to have been abandoned. Three consecutive days shall be prima facie evidence of such abandonment. In such event the owner or operator of such vehicle shall be liable for reasonable towing and storage charges, in addition to any other penalty which may be determined. (Ord. 538, 1971)