Policy Text
Page 1 of 12 6/08 (Rev 5/17)
Vehicle Towing
The purpose of this General Order is to establish policies and procedures relating to
towing vehicles, placing holds, r eleasing towed vehicles, evide nce processing and
payment of towing, impounding, and storage fees.
I. Policy
A. It is the policy of the Sacr amento Sheriff’s Department (SSD ) that
officers tow vehicles only when authorized pursuant to statute and
the Community Caretaking Doctrine.
1. Nothing in this policy shall require the Department to tow a
vehicle.
2. CHP 180 Form: Officers r equesting storage or impoundment
of a vehicle shall properly complete a CHP 180 form.
a. The requesting officer shall , as soon as possible, notify
the Communication Center v ia telephone following the
storage of the vehicle.
b. It shall be the responsibi lity of the Communication
Center to immediately ma ke the appropriate CLETS
and NCIC entries.
c. The initiating officer sha ll fax the completed CHP 180
form to the Department Towing Coordinator, and submit the report prior to end of watch.
3. The justification for a to w under the Community Caretaking
doctrine may be inherent in the statutory sect ion authorizing
the tow, but where additional just ifications exist, they should
be noted as well.
a. For instance, officers may consider if leaving the
vehicle on scene would s ubject the vehicle to an
articulable risk of theft or vandalism or jeopardize
public safety or the effici ent movement of vehicular
traffic.
Page 2 of 12 6/08 (Rev 5/17)
II. Towing Procedures
A. Inventory Search: In every ins tance where a vehicle is towe d pursuant to
this general order officers s hall conduct a thorough inventory search of the
vehicle, and all containers ther ein, as reasonably necessary to assure that
any property therein, that is of e xtraordinary value, is accoun ted for as
described in subparagraph E.
B. Property: The registered owner or driver in lawful possess ion of the
vehicle shall be allo wed to remove all per sonal property of val ue from the
vehicle prior to towing. Any i tems affixed to the vehicle (exa mple: stereo
equipment, battery, automotive co mponents, etc.) shall remain a ffixed.
1. When a towed vehicle contains an item of extraordinary value , and
such items are found pursuant to p re-towing inventory, the item
may be booked for “safekeeping” according to the Department
policies and procedures.
2. For items of extraordinary value where an owner cannot be
determined, the property shall be booked as “found” property.
3. Value is determined by the offi cer. Items of ex traordinary v alue, and
their disposition, sha ll be noted on the CHP 180.
C. Private Property: Private p roperty owners requesting the r emoval and
storage of a vehicle (not involv ed in a criminal act) from thei r respective
property shall be advised of section 22658 CVC.
D. Department Vehicles: Departmen t vehicles are to be towed on ly by
the towing firms approved by and contracted with county fleet
services. The Communication Cent er is responsible for contacti ng
and coordinating with the appropriate towing firm.
E. Storing Vehicles Upon Arrest: Officers may store an arreste e’s
vehicle pursuant to VC 22651(h)(1) and the Community Caretaking
Doctrine. Officers shall consider if leaving the vehicle on sc ene
would subject the vehicle to an articulable risk of theft or va ndalism
or jeopardize public safety or t he efficient movement of vehicu lar
traffic. 1. Circumstances when a vehi cle may be towed under VC
22651(h)(1) and the Community Caret aking Doctrine may include,
but are not limited to, when:
a. The vehicle cannot be secu red and cannot be released
immediately to a licensed driver at the scene who is
authorized by the r egistered owner.
Page 3 of 12 6/08 (Rev 5/17)
b. The vehicle is a traffic hazard and cannot be released
immediately to a licensed driver at the scene who is
authorized by the r egistered owner.
c. The vehicle is parked ill egally and cannot be released
immediately to a licensed driver at the scene who is
authorized by the r egistered owner.
d. The officer can articulate t hat leaving the vehicle on scene
subjects the vehicle to the risk of theft or vandalism.
e. Towing is specifically reques ted by the arrested person.
2. Circumstances when a vehicl e should not be towed under VC
22651(h)(1) include, but are not limited to, when:
a. The vehicle is parked in the arrestee's residential drivewa y
o r a l egal parking space in the i mmediate vicinity of the
r e s i dence.
b. A licensed driver is present, able to lawfully operate the
vehicle, and is given permissi on by the registered owner.
3. When a vehicle is released to a licensed driver the name and
driver's license number of the licensed driver shall be documen ted
in the CAD event or on the Traf fic Notice to Appear that is iss ued to
the unlicensed driver. a.