Section 22-109. Removal of trucks, merchandise and vessels

Where any wharf
  property or marginal street shall be encumbered  or  obstructed  in  its
  free  use  or  navigation by merchandise or material not affixed to such
  wharf property or marginal street, or by an automobile, wagon, truck  or
  cart,  or  by  any floating, stranded or sunken vessel or craft, and the
  owner, consignee or person in charge thereof shall fail  to  remove  the
  same  when  directed by an order issued by the commissioner, pursuant to
  section seven hundred four of the charter, the commissioner  may  employ
  such  labor  and  equipment as may be necessary to carry out such order.
  The commissioner  may  store  such  merchandise,  material,  automobile,
  wagon,  truck,  cart,  vessel  or craft in a warehouse or other suitable
  place at the expense of the owner. Such owner, consignee  or  person  in
  charge  of  the  merchandise,  material, automobile, wagon, truck, cart,
  vessel or craft so removed or stored may redeem the same upon payment to
  the commissioner of the amount of all expenses actually and  necessarily
  incurred  in  effecting  such  removal,  together  with  any charges for
  storage. The commissioner shall be deemed  a  creditor  of  such  owner,
  consignee  or  person  in  charge and each of them for the amount of the
  expenses so incurred and the commissioner may maintain an action against
  them, or any of them, to recover the same.