Impound FAQ
Content
30-Day Impound FAQ No License – No Car – No Excuses Frequently Ased Questions !" #$y %as %as my car impou impounded nded& & Your vehicle was Your was impounded because because you or another individual individual driving driving your vehicle has: a suspended license' a re(oed license' or' does not $a(e a (alid license" Cali)ornia *e$icle Code +ections !,0." AND !,0/" On January 1st 1995, new laws were enacted relating to unlicensed drivers. These laws, laws, ali!ornia ali!ornia "ehicle "ehicle ode #ections #ections 1$%&'.% and and 1$%&(.%, authori)e authori)e law en!orcement agencies agencies to tow and impound vehicles !or *& days when driven by unlicensed, suspended or revo+ed drivers. There is a possibility the vehicle could be !or!eited ta+en ta+en !rom you- i! you have a prior conviction !or driving while unlicensed, or with a suspended or revo+ed license. !,0/", !,0/", The /egislature /egislature 0nds and declar declares es all o! the !ollowing: a. riving a motor vehicle on the public streets and highways is a privilege not a right. b. O! all drivers involved in !atal accidents more than '& percent are not licensed to drive. 2 driver with a suspended license is !our times as li+ely to be involved in a !atal accident as a properly licensed driver. c. 2t any given time, the epartment o! 3otor "ehicles "ehicles 3"estimates that out o! appro4imately '& million drivers licenses issued to ali!ornians, ('&,&&& are suspended or revo+ed. 6urthermore, 1,&&&,&&& persons are estimated to be driving without ever having been licensed. d. Over $,&&& persons are +illed in tra7c accidents in ali!ornia annually and another **&,&&& persons su8er inuries. e. ali!ornians who comply with the law are !reuently victims o! tra7c accidents caused by unlicensed drivers. These innocent victims su8er considerable pain and property loss at the hands o! people who ;aunt the law. The 3" estimates that (5< o! all drivers whose driving privilege has been withdrawn continue to drive regardless o! the law. !. =t is necessary and appropriate to ta+e additional steps to prevent unlicensed drivers !rom driving, including the civil !or!eiture o! vehicles used by unlicensed drivers. The state has a critical interest in the protection o! the health, sa!ety, and wel!are o! ali!ornians !rom the harm o! unlicensed drivers, who are involved in a dispropor disproportionate tionate
number o! tra7c incidents, and the avoidance o! the associated destruction and damage to lives and property.
." o% lon1 %ill my (e$icle 2e impounded& The vehicle will be impounded !or *& calendar days. The registered owner will have to pay !or the towing and the *&day storage !ee to get the vehicle bac+ at the end o! that period.
3" It %as a minor in)raction %$y %as my car impounded& >oth 1$%&'.% and 1$%&(.% o! the ali!ornia "ehicle ode give law en!orcement o7cers the authority to impound your vehicle when it is being operated by an unlicensed, suspended or revo+ed driver. Your car is being impounded because you have committed a misdemeanor, not an in!raction. >y operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver?s license you have committed a serious o8ense. =n addition to the citation, the vehicle you are operating will be impounded and held !or *& days or possibly !or!eited.
," I don4t understand %$y 30 days& I a2solutely need my car5 The legislature intended to provide sa!er roads !or ali!ornia?s motoring public by removing the vehicles driven by unlicensed, suspended or revo+ed drivers !or *& days. 2 serious violation o! the law calls !or a serious response. The *& day impound begins on the calendar day that the car is towed and will be released at the conclusion o! the *&th day.
6" #$at $appens to my car %$o impounds t$e car& Your car will be stored at a tow yard and you will be given a receipt.
" #$y is dri(in1 %it$out a (alid license so serious& riving in ali!ornia is a privilege, not a right. 2n unlicensed driver is a potential danger to all other motorists on the road. 2 driver who is unlicensed, suspended, or revo+ed has been ordered not to drive because o! previous driving violations. ontinuing to drive shows a ;agrant disregard to the sa!ety o! other motorists.
/" o% do I 1et my car released& 2t the end o! *& days, you must obtain a release !rom the #ausalito @olice epartment. The vehicle may be released prior to the end o! the *&day period when the driver reinstates his or her drivers license or acuires a drivers license and proper insurance. You will be given a release a!ter paying an administrative !ee related to the towing, processing and storage o! your vehicle.
7$e )ollo%in1 excuses %ill not $elp %$en your (e$icle is 2ein1 dri(en 2y an unlicensed dri(er and t$en stopped 2y a la% en)orcement o8cer )or any reason9 •
:y 2rot$er 2orro%ed t$e car" I did not no% $is license %as suspended" Ander section 1$%&$ ", the owner o! a motor vehicle has the duty to assure the person driving their vehicle has a valid licenseB however, i! you allow or permit anyone, including your wi!e, son, daughter, !riend or relative to drive your vehicle and that person does not have a valid license, then you will be responsible !or the towing and storage !ees. You will not have access to the vehicle !or *& days.
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+$e too my car %it$out my permission" I am t$e o%ner' and I $a(e a (alid license" To say someone has ta+en your car without your permission is not a valid e4cuse. 2s+ yoursel! CDow did this happenEC Dave you allowed himFher to use your car be!oreE id you as+ to see hisFher licenseE 2ny vehicle impounded !or this violation will be released to the registered owner a!ter *& days. GOTH: =! it is determined your car was ta+en by an unlicensed driver without your +nowledge or permission, then a stolen vehicle report must be 0led. The person charged with this crime will be arrested.
number o! tra7c incidents, and the avoidance o! the associated destruction and damage to lives and property.
." o% lon1 %ill my (e$icle 2e impounded& The vehicle will be impounded !or *& calendar days. The registered owner will have to pay !or the towing and the *&day storage !ee to get the vehicle bac+ at the end o! that period.
3" It %as a minor in)raction %$y %as my car impounded& >oth 1$%&'.% and 1$%&(.% o! the ali!ornia "ehicle ode give law en!orcement o7cers the authority to impound your vehicle when it is being operated by an unlicensed, suspended or revo+ed driver. Your car is being impounded because you have committed a misdemeanor, not an in!raction. >y operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver?s license you have committed a serious o8ense. =n addition to the citation, the vehicle you are operating will be impounded and held !or *& days or possibly !or!eited.
," I don4t understand %$y 30 days& I a2solutely need my car5 The legislature intended to provide sa!er roads !or ali!ornia?s motoring public by removing the vehicles driven by unlicensed, suspended or revo+ed drivers !or *& days. 2 serious violation o! the law calls !or a serious response. The *& day impound begins on the calendar day that the car is towed and will be released at the conclusion o! the *&th day.
6" #$at $appens to my car %$o impounds t$e car& Your car will be stored at a tow yard and you will be given a receipt.
" #$y is dri(in1 %it$out a (alid license so serious& riving in ali!ornia is a privilege, not a right. 2n unlicensed driver is a potential danger to all other motorists on the road. 2 driver who is unlicensed, suspended, or revo+ed has been ordered not to drive because o! previous driving violations. ontinuing to drive shows a ;agrant disregard to the sa!ety o! other motorists.
/" o% do I 1et my car released& 2t the end o! *& days, you must obtain a release !rom the #ausalito @olice epartment. The vehicle may be released prior to the end o! the *&day period when the driver reinstates his or her drivers license or acuires a drivers license and proper insurance. You will be given a release a!ter paying an administrative !ee related to the towing, processing and storage o! your vehicle.
7$e )ollo%in1 excuses %ill not $elp %$en your (e$icle is 2ein1 dri(en 2y an unlicensed dri(er and t$en stopped 2y a la% en)orcement o8cer )or any reason9 •
:y 2rot$er 2orro%ed t$e car" I did not no% $is license %as suspended" Ander section 1$%&$ ", the owner o! a motor vehicle has the duty to assure the person driving their vehicle has a valid licenseB however, i! you allow or permit anyone, including your wi!e, son, daughter, !riend or relative to drive your vehicle and that person does not have a valid license, then you will be responsible !or the towing and storage !ees. You will not have access to the vehicle !or *& days.
•
+$e too my car %it$out my permission" I am t$e o%ner' and I $a(e a (alid license" To say someone has ta+en your car without your permission is not a valid e4cuse. 2s+ yoursel! CDow did this happenEC Dave you allowed himFher to use your car be!oreE id you as+ to see hisFher licenseE 2ny vehicle impounded !or this violation will be released to the registered owner a!ter *& days. GOTH: =! it is determined your car was ta+en by an unlicensed driver without your +nowledge or permission, then a stolen vehicle report must be 0led. The person charged with this crime will be arrested.
