Policy Text
Policy Delano Police Department
502 Delano PD Policy Manual
Vehicle Towing and Release
502.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides the procedures for towing a vehicle by or at the direction of the Delano Police
Department. Nothing in this policy shall require the Department to tow a vehicle.
502.2 STORAGE AND IMPOUNDS
When circumstances permit, for example when towing a vehicle for parking or registration
violations, the handling employee should, prior to having the vehicle towed, make a good faith
effort to notify the owner of the vehicle that it is subject to removal. This may be accomplished
by personal contact, telephone or by leaving a notice attached to the vehicle at least 24 hours
prior to removal. If a vehicle presents a hazard, such as being abandoned on the roadway, it may
be towed immediately.
The responsibilities of those employees towing, storing or impounding a vehicle are listed below.
502.2.1 VEHICLE STORAGE REPORT
Department members requesting towing, storage or impound of a vehicle shall complete CHP
Form 180 and accurately record the mileage and a description of property within the vehicle
(Vehicle Code § 22850). A copy of the storage report should to be given to the tow truck operator
and the original shall be submitted to the Records Division as soon as practicable after the vehicle
is stored.
502.2.2 REMOVAL FROM TRAFFIC COLLISION SCENES
When a vehicle has been involved in a traffic collision and must be removed from the scene, the
officer shall have the driver select a towing company, if possible, and shall relay the request for
the specified towing company to the dispatcher. When there is no preferred company requested,
a company will be selected from the rotational list of towing companies in the Dispatch Center.
If the owner is incapacitated, or for any reason it is necessary for the Department to assume
responsibility for a vehicle involved in a collision, the officer shall request the dispatcher to call
the official towing garage for the City of Delano Police Department. The officer will then store the
vehicle using a CHP Form 180.
502.2.3 STORAGE AT ARREST SCENES
Whenever a person in charge or in control of a vehicle is arrested, it is the policy of this department
to provide reasonable safekeeping by storing the arrestee’s vehicle subject to the exceptions
described below. The vehicle, however, shall be stored whenever it is needed for the furtherance
of the investigation or prosecution of the case, or when the community caretaker doctrine would
reasonably suggest that the vehicle should be stored (e.g., traffic hazard, high-crime area).
The following are examples of situations where consideration should be given to leaving a vehicle
at the scene in lieu of storing, provided the vehicle can be lawfully parked and left in a reasonably
secured and safe condition:
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/12/06, All Rights Reserved. Vehicle Towing and Release - 1
Published with permission by Delano Police Department