Reasons for impoundment Vehicle impoundment

1 reasons impoundment

1.1 grant of authority
1.2 locating vehicle
1.3 towing vehicle

reasons impoundment

vehicles may impounded:

by government agencies (usually municipalities) when

there unresolved parking violation(s) of age, , possibly above total fine threshold
in instances, during violation of parking ordinance (in zones marked tow away zone or similar)
the registrant of vehicle has unresolved moving violations
the vehicle collected evidence of commission of potential crime (e.g. homicide or drug smuggling).
there no qualified drivers operate vehicle


in jurisdictions, part of repossession of vehicle lessor or lender

the process impoundment follows:

owner or operator creates legal basis impoundment above (failure make payments, illegal vehicle usage, etc.)
a grant of authority impound made either implicitly or explicitly (see below)
an agency has legal authority execute impoundment locates vehicle (see below)
the agency takes possession of vehicle , tows impoundment lot
if owner or operator not clear issue (payment, etc.), after defined period, vehicle sold @ auction
after deducting costs of auction, impoundment process, , other fees sale price, remainder returned owner

grant of authority

before vehicle can impounded, impounding agency must receive right perform impoundment. in cases, may involve court decision. in others, there automatic right impound if conditions met. example, in new york city, parking ticket not pleaded 100 days, or not paid 100 days after losing court decision, results in default judgement, , car ticket in default judgement may automatically eligible new york city sheriff impound.

for repossession-based impoundment, lending agency or assignee granted authority either court order, or in cases, contract law. in jurisdictions, authority may allow lender repossess vehicle using own resources; in others, lender must request sheriff, marshall, or other government agent perform or oversee repossession activity.

locating vehicle

the impounding agency may identify impoundment candidate , hunt it. true in cases of repossession, large outstanding fines, or serious vehicle violations. more typically, impounding agency has list of vehicles impound, , sends agents check every car in area against list. if agent happens locate vehicle on list, agent starts process of taking possession , towing of vehicle

towing vehicle

the impounding agent may travel in tow truck, in case, may able conduct tow directly no additional input. often, agent may not have authority so, , may have call in specific resource (badged agent, marshall, etc.) oversee operation. if locating agent and/or authorized agent not have tow vehicle, have call 1 in, either agency s own fleet, or contracted towing company.

in cases, if owner or operator intervenes during tow procedure, may able stop it, paying fine on spot via portable credit card reader.

the towed vehicle taken impoundment lot. lot may exclusively impoundments, or may storage yard serves other functions, such parking area site, or vehicle repair shop.