Policy Text
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
J-03: Towing Vehicles
Effective Date: 10 MAY 24 Coordinator: Traffic Operations Section
Page 1 of 8
TOWING PROCEDURES
The purpose of this order is to set forth De partmental policy and pr ocedures for towing
vehicles. Procedures for completing reports and citations mentioned in this order are found in
Departmental Report Writing Manual Insert T-19, TOWING PROCEDURES. This order
applies to motor vehicles including motor-driv en cycles, motorized bi cycles and "mopeds."
I. TOW REQUESTS
A. Departmental Tows
1. A Departmental tow may be orde red by a member or employee:
a) Pursuant to a Vehicle Code section. Note: Members and
employees shall not tow vehicl es when the only basis for
towing is California Vehicle C ode Section 22651(i)(1) (five or
more notices of pa rking violations).
1
b) For evidentiary purposes, upon supervisory approval.
c) Special tow projects require advance notification to the
Communications and Records Divisions to ensure adequate staff is available to hand le the increased workload.
2. Procedures for towing vehicles fro m public and private property shall
be made in accordance with the provisions of Departmental Report
Writing Manual T-19, TOWING PROCEDURES.
3. The following tows can be orde red through the Communications
Division: a) Requests for towing a single vehicl e from one location or event.
b) Requests for multiple tows fro m one location or event under
hazardous conditions.
1 See Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco , 93 Cal.App.5th 928 (2023) (holding that
city cannot tow safely and lawfully parked vehicles, wit hout a warrant, solely because of unpaid parking tickets
and pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22651(i)(1)).
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT J-3 Rev.
10 MAY 24
Page 2 of 8
4. Abandoned auto tows and mult iple tows under non-hazardous
situations shall, to the extent pr actical, be ordered through the Records
Division.
5. The member or employee shall remain at the scene until the tow truck
arrives, except for Abandoned Vehicle Unit tows.
6. Towed vehicles shall be towed to the City tow contractor's garage.
Private vehicles shall no t be parked at the Transportation lot except for
evidence processing in major cases at the direction of a command
officer or the assigned investigator.
7. A reasonable effort shall be made to locate a vehicle's owner to
eliminate unnecessary tows.
8. When the driver of a vehicle is a rrested for driving under the influence
or other charges, the vehicle sha ll be towed as a Departmental tow
unless the owner gives informed consen t to leave the vehicle parked at
the scene.
B. Owner/Operator Requested Tows
1. When a vehicle owner/operator requests a tow, the member or
employee shall order the tow thr ough the Communications Division.
2. The owner/operator will be aske d for his/her preference in tow
companies and that preference honore d when the tow is ordered. If the
owner/ operator has no preference, a tow company under contract to the
City will be dispatched.
3. An owner/operator requested tow shall not be ordered unless the
owner/operator, or other person de signated by the operator, remains
with the vehicle until the tow arrives.
C. Abandoned Vehicle Tows on Public Property
1. Responsibility for Marking and Towing
a) All members shall ma rk and tow abandoned vehicles within
their area of assignment as time allows.
2. Towing Procedures
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT J-3 Rev.
10 MAY 24
Page 3 of 8 a) Members and employees shall:
(1) Attach a warning sticker securely on the windshield no
less than 72 hours prior to the actual tow.
(2) Record mileage of the abandoned vehicle on the
Assignment Report (236-253).
(3) Place an alignment mark on tire and pavement and
indicate the marking on the Assignment Report.
(4) Complete the necessary reports and/or citations.
(5) Deposit completed reports in th e report receptacle at the
Police Administration Building or Eastmont Substation at the end of the shift and deposit the citations at the proper location.
3. Appraisal Responsibilities
a) The assigned member or employee towing the vehicle shall
determine the estimated value of the vehicle.
b) If the identifying numbers on the vehicle do not match those on
the reports, the appraiser shall complete the proper reports with the corrected information.
c) If the identifying numbers appear to have been tampered with,
the appraiser shall notify the Auto Theft Unit and mark "Removed/Altered VIN (10751 VC)" on the Vehicle Report (536-254).
D. Abandoned Vehicle Tows on Private Property
1. Sources of violations in clude but are not limited to citizen complaints,
neighborhood organizations, city gove rnment agencies, members, and
employees.
2. Field Personnel Responsibility
a) Members and authorized employe es assigned to investigate a
complaint shall complete a preliminary investigation in accordance with current Vehicl e Abatement Unit procedures.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT J-3 Rev.
10 MAY 24
Page 4 of 8 b) Members and/or authorized empl oyees shall mark the vehicle