Brief Description: Addressing the impoundment of vehicles parked on public streets by police officers.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Goodman, Rodne, O'Brien, Jarrett, Lovick and Priest).

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

A police officer is allowed to take custody of a motor vehicle and have it impounded under the following circumstances:

• if the vehicle's driver is arrested for certain offenses or taken into custody;
• when the officer finds the vehicle unattended upon a highway where the vehicle is an obstruction to traffic or jeopardizes public safety;
• when the vehicle is stolen;
• when the vehicle is illegally parked; and
• upon a determination that a person is operating the vehicle without a valid driver's license.

Once a vehicle is impounded, the impounding tow truck operator is required to notify the legal and registered owners of the vehicle. This notice must be sent by first-class mail within 24 hours of impoundment and must inform the owner of the identity of the person or agency authorizing the impound. The notification must also include the name of the impounding tow firm, its address, and telephone number.

Summary:

A police officer may impound a vehicle parked on a public street with registration that has been expired for more than 45 days.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   90   8
Senate   33   15

Effective: July 22, 2007