The police department and all members thereof

assigned to traffic duty are 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 or obstructs or may obstruct the movement of any emergency vehicle, or may be illegally parked in violation of this title.

    Cars so towed away shall be stored on any city property or in a public garage or parking lot and shall be restored to the owner or operator thereof after payment of the expense incurred by the city in removing and storing such vehicles. (Prior code § 24-5-6)