Procedure 607-Impounding Vehicles

Question 1

.03 Classification of Impounded Vehicles

Answer 1

A. Impounded for forfeiture;
B. Impounded for evidence;
C. Impounded as prisoner’s personal property;
D. Impounded for traffic violations;
E. Impounded as an abandoned vehicle;
F. Impounded as a recovered stolen vehicle; and
G. Impounded from crash scene.

Question 2

.04A. Growdon Storage Facility - Located at 3625 Growdon Road. This facility receives all impounded vehicles, except;

Answer 2

vehicles impounded for downtown area parking violations.

Question 3

04B.This facility receives vehicles impounded for downtown area parking violations.

Answer 3

Storage facility belonging to the holder of the current wrecker contract.

Question 4

.05C. Officers will first check for Evidence of Financial Responsibility on the vehicle, if the driver is unable to provide such proof, the officer will accept;

Answer 4

Proof of Financial Responsibility on the driver.

Question 5

.06A. Officers submit a written report, showing justification for impoundment, when impounding any vehicle, except;

Answer 5

vehicles involved in crashes or from a “0700 - 0900 or 1600 - 1800 Tow-Away-Zone” are taken to the contract wrecker company storage facility.

Question 6

Copies of the report are forwarded to:

Answer 6

1. The Vehicle Crimes Unit; and
2. Municipal Court, if applicable, attached to the
   Order of Impoundment.

Question 7

.06B. In the TSR remarks column the officer notes the following:

Answer 7

1., Waiting or labor time after first [15] minutes;
2. The words ‘Hold for MC’, vehicle
impounded pursuant to an Order of
Impoundment.
3. The words NO INSURANCE for any vehicle
impounded for that purpose.

Question 8

.06B. Officers are required to Complete SAPD Form #113, Receipt For Property, in duplicate, for any property received from an individual or Licensed Vehicle Storage Facility the receipt is routed as
follows:

Answer 8

a. Original to Records Office;

b. A copy to person the property is taken from.

Question 9

E. Officers inform the vehicle owners/drivers their vehicles are impounded at the Growdon Storage Facility for failure to provide;

Answer 9

Evidence of Financial Responsibility.

Question 10

.08B. When a vehicle is impounded as evidence, the officer will:

Answer 10

1. Write “Evidence” on the TSR;
2. Route a copy to the follow-up unit;
3. Request UEDI /CSU Investigator process vehicle.

Question 11

.10A. Officers ticket and /or impound vehicles for any of the following traffic violations or court orders:

Answer 11

1. “Tow-Away-Zone” Parking Restrictions;
2. Traffic Hazards;
3. Uninsured Driver;
4. Parked over [2] hr untraveled part expressway

Question 12

.10A. Uninsured driver may waive transportation, and released at the scene, if safe to do so, officers document

Answer 12

all incidents where the driver/occupants refuse transportation, on an Incident report.

Question 13

.10A. Driver/occupants under 17 years of age have 30 minute wait-time for a parent, legal guardian or custodian picks them up before being;

Answer 13

• Returned to the Youth Processing Office.
• Being taken to their residence.
• Waiving Transportation if safe to do so.

Question 14

.10C. Officers utilize following to attempt to verify insurance coverage before towing.

Answer 14

1. Ask driver for phone of insurance company.
2. Contact dispatch, they verify information.
3. If verified no violation insurance ticket.

Question 15

.10C. Before decision to tow, officers consider:

Answer 15

a. disabilities; b. weather conditions.
c. call load. d. animals in car.
e. time of day f. Location
g. out of state driver h. Exigent circumstances
i. physical condition driver.
f. any children in car and how many.

Question 16

.10C. Allow a minimum of 30 minutes, mandatory time period, before the wrecker arrives, for;

Answer 16

the driver to provide proof of insurance.

Question 17

.10C. Officers will not initiate an inventory of the vehicle until;

Answer 17

after the 30 minute time frame has elapsed.

Question 18

.10C. An admission to being an uninsured driver allows the officer to;

Answer 18

proceed without a mandatory waiting period.

Question 19

.10C. Once it has been determined the driver is uninsured, officers shall not allow vehicles to be parked instead of towed. They will either;

Answer 19

have the vehicle towed or allow the driver to proceed with the vehicle.

Question 20

.10C. If an officer makes the decision not to tow an eligible vehicle because the driver fails to provide Evidence of Financial Responsibility, the officer will

Answer 20

notify his supervisor of this decision before allowing the driver to proceed.

Question 21

.10C. This provides the supervisor the opportunity to;

Answer 21

review and approve those circumstances which caused the officer to decide not to tow.

Question 22

.10C. Nothing in this procedure requires the

Answer 22

supervisor to make the scene to determine if a tow is required.

Question 23

.10D. The following N-Codes will be used on all traffic stops involving “Failure to provide Evidence of Financial Responsibility,” when the vehicle is released. Also, the

Answer 23

sergeant authorizing the decision not to tow will have their name entered on the Dispatch N-Code card.

Question 24

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on condition of driver (elderly, sick, etc.);

Answer 24

N-Code 19

Question 25

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on weather conditions;

Answer 25

N-Code 20

Question 26

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on call load;

Answer 26

N-Code 21

Question 27

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on the driver is from out of state;

Answer 27

N-Code 22

Question 28

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on small children in the vehicle and/or the number of children;

Answer 28

N-Code 23

Question 29

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on if the driver or other occupants are disabled;

Answer 29

N-Code 24

Question 30

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on the fact that there are animals in vehicle.

Answer 30

N-Code 25

Question 31

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on the nature and quantity of contents in the vehicle (potential financial loss, perishable items, etc).

Answer 31

N-Code 26

Question 32

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on exigent circumstances (health-care crisis, etc.);

Answer 32

N-Code 27

Question 33

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on Time of Day;

Answer 33

N-Code 28

Question 34

.10D. Decision Not to Tow based on Location (desolate areas, open fields, safety issues, etc.)

Answer 34

N-Code 29

Question 35

.11A. Vehicles abandoned on any public street, or any dedicated street on city property form #114, Official Police Notice

Answer 35

[green sticker], is placed on the windshield;

Question 36

.11A. A parking ticket is issued for “Using the Street for Storage” and the vehicle is impounded If the vehicle, after receiving a green sticker, remains;

Answer 36

after [24] hours.

Question 37

.11B. Vehicles abandoned on city-owned property other than dedicated streets are handled in the same manner as an abandoned vehicle on a public street, except;

Answer 37

no parking ticket is issued.

Question 38

.11C. Vehicles are impounded if parked on the untraveled portion of an expressway for;

Answer 38

over [2] hour

Question 39

.12C. Recovered stolen vehicles not used in any serious offense, the vehicle is processed for evidence, and the owner is contacted, the officer allows the owner a

Answer 39

minimum of [1] hour to claim his vehicle at the

scene.

Question 40

.12C. When recovering a stolen vehicle from a licensed vehicle storage facility, officers are required to complete SAPD Form #113, Receipt for Property,

Answer 40

in duplicate.

Question 41

.13C. If a driver can make his vehicle drivable after minor repairs, the officer will allow the driver

Answer 41

[15] minutes after the completion of the investigation to repair his vehicle.

Question 42

.14A. Vehicles found parked under the following circumstances are ticketed and/or relocated in lieu of being impounded:

Answer 42

1. On parade routes - Ticketed only if parked after
   restrictions are posted;
2. Hindering repair by public works crew Ticketed
   only if parked after restrictions are posted;
3. Blocking driveways.

Question 43

.14B. Vehicles are relocated in the immediate area. Officers notify the

Answer 43

Security Desk as to the new location of the vehicle.

Question 44

.15B. An inventory is limited to places where a person ordinarily would store or leave items of personal property, such as:

Answer 44

1. Passenger compartment;
2. Trunk, if key is available;
3. Any open container.

Question 45

.15D. Locked vehicles - officer inventories visible property, listing them on the TSR and in his report. The vehicle is impounded at the Growdon Storage Facility, on Secure Row, only after a;

Answer 45

supervisor personally inspects the vehicle and authorizes the storage by signing the TSR;

Question 46

.15D. Unlocked vehicles with bulky or excessive amounts of property - These vehicles are impounded at the Growdon Storage Facility, on

Answer 46

Secure Row, only after a supervisor personally inspects the vehicles and authorizes the storage by
signing the TSR.