People are usually relatively assertive about maintaining their vehicles because of their value. Vehicles can also play a key role in helping people take care of their families and maintain their employment.
Vehicles can be at risk of repossession if owners fall behind on their payment arrangements. They can also be vulnerable to state attempts to impound the vehicle. When do people have to worry about the possibility of the state impounding their vehicle?
Many issues can justify impounding a vehicle
There are quite a few scenarios in which the state can impound a vehicle. Many of them involve illegal parking. A vehicle left in a location where it is hazardous to others, such as partially blocking a lane on a freeway, is potentially at risk.
The same is true of any vehicle parked in a location that prevents access to public or private property. Parking a vehicle in front of a driveway and then leaving might mean that people call the authorities and seek the removal of the vehicle. If someone abandons their vehicle for at least 12 hours, the state can impound it even if it is parked in a relatively safe location.
Any vehicle parked in a marked tow zone could be at risk. A vehicle can end up impounded if the driver leaves it in a restricted parking zone, such as a private lot maintained for apartment residents.
Other times, issues with the legal status of the vehicle or its driver could lead to the state impounding it. Someone operating a vehicle without a driver’s license is at risk of the state impounding their vehicle. The same is true in cases where drivers do not have mandatory insurance coverage.
If the vehicle does not have appropriate license plates or if they are damaged, the state could impound the vehicle. Risk also exists in scenarios where the plates on the vehicle are technically registered to another vehicle.
What happens next?
After the state impounds a vehicle, police officers look to identify and contact the owner of the vehicle. They usually have three business days to verify ownership and notify any likely owners that the state has impounded the vehicle.
That notice typically includes information that helps to identify the vehicle and details about where the state has impounded the vehicle. The owner may have to cover fees in order to reclaim the vehicle. In some cases, they may be able to redeem the vehicle without extensive costs if they can prove that the state did not follow the right procedures.
Those dealing with allegations of driving without a license or similar criminal offenses may have to worry about not just their freedom but their vehicle as well. Understanding when the state can impound a vehicle can help people avoid this potentially devastating situation.