By Legal Radar 
Getting your car towed feels like a punch to the gut. One minute you’re running errands or parked for the night. The next, it’s gone, and the clock starts ticking on storage fees that can climb fast. California Vehicle Code Section 22651 gives peace officers and certain authorized employees broad power to remove vehicles in dozens of situations. This guide explains the main reasons cars get towed under 22651 CVC, what the fees look like, how to get your vehicle back, and how to challenge an unlawful impound. Whether you’re a driver facing a sudden tow, a vehicle owner sorting out paperwork, or someone seeking clarity on California Vehicle Code rules, you’ll find practical steps here.
What Is California Vehicle Code Section 22651?
Section 22651 of the California Vehicle Code authorizes a peace officer or a regularly employed, salaried employee who directs traffic or enforces parking laws to remove a vehicle within their jurisdiction under listed circumstances. The goal is public safety, traffic flow, and enforcement of registration, licensing, and parking rules. It is the primary statute behind many law enforcement towing actions across the state.
The section contains many subsections. Officers cite the specific lettered subdivision that matches the situation. Knowing which one applies helps you understand the authority used and whether the tow was proper. Related sections, such as 14602.6 for certain 30-day holds on unlicensed or suspended drivers, often work alongside 22651 CVC. Storage hearings fall under Section 22852.
Common Reasons Vehicles Get Towed Under 22651 CVC
Officers do not tow randomly. The statute lists specific triggers. Here are the ones drivers encounter most often.
Traffic Obstruction and Safety Hazards
A vehicle left unattended on a bridge, viaduct, causeway, tube, or tunnel that obstructs traffic can be removed right away. The same applies if a vehicle is parked or left standing on a highway in a position that blocks normal traffic movement or creates a hazard. Stalled cars in travel lanes, vehicles stopped past blind curves without lights, or anything that endangers others fall here. Freeway right-of-way situations also qualify after more than four hours when the driver cannot move the vehicle under its own power (except for highway maintenance equipment).
Blocking Driveways or Fire Hydrants
If a vehicle illegally parks so it blocks a private driveway entrance and moving it a short distance is impractical, officers can tow it. The same rule applies when a vehicle prevents firefighting equipment from reaching a fire hydrant. These tows protect access for emergencies and property owners.
Driver Arrest or Incapacitation
When an officer arrests a person driving or in control of a vehicle and takes that person into custody, the vehicle can be towed. This commonly happens after DUI arrests, outstanding warrants, or other offenses requiring custody. If the person in charge is incapacitated by injury or illness and cannot arrange for the vehicle’s removal, officers may also store it. Some officers allow a licensed passenger to drive the car away as a courtesy, but the statute does not require it.
Expired Registration
Under subdivision (o), a vehicle found or operated on a highway, public land, or off-street parking facility with registration expired more than six months can be towed. Officers must verify through DMV records that no current registration exists. If the database shows active registration but the sticker is missing or damaged, towing under this provision should not occur. Recent changes limit pure registration stops in the early months after expiration, yet the six-month threshold for possible impound remains important. Always keep registration current and update your address with the DMV so notices reach you.
Unpaid Parking Tickets and Related Violations
A vehicle found on a highway or public land that has five or more unpaid parking violation notices (unanswered for the required periods) can be impounded. The same authority can apply when the registered owner has five or more outstanding traffic violations that have not been cleared. Getting the car back requires clearing those penalties, providing identity, and supplying a California address.
Licensing Issues
Driving without a valid license or on a suspended or revoked license can lead to towing under 22651 CVC. In many cases involving suspended, revoked, or never-issued licenses, officers use the related authority in Section 14602.6, which can trigger a mandatory 30-day hold. Early release is possible in limited situations, such as when the registered owner has a valid license and appears, the vehicle was stolen, or certain other exceptions apply. Courts have scrutinized prolonged holds under the Fourth Amendment, so agencies must apply these rules carefully.
Other grounds include stolen or embezzled vehicles, certain advertising vehicles that ignore prior warnings, and vehicles left for extended periods in violation of local ordinances (often with required signage). Local rules sometimes expand removal authority, but signs and notice requirements usually apply.
Impound Fees and Storage Costs in California
Towing and storage add up quickly. Typical costs include:
- Towing or hookup fees: often $150 to $500 or more, depending on vehicle size, time of day, and equipment needed.
- Daily storage: commonly $40 to $80-plus per day for standard passenger vehicles. California Highway Patrol publishes maximum rates that many operators follow or approach. Outdoor rates are usually a bit lower than indoor.
- Administrative or release fees charged by the law enforcement agency: frequently $100 to $300.
A vehicle held even a few days can cost several hundred dollars. A full 30-day hold can exceed $2,000 once towing, storage, and admin charges combine. Storage facilities must accept valid bank credit cards or cash from the registered owner, legal owner, or agent. Refusing a valid bank credit card can create liability for the facility. Always request an itemized invoice.
Fees continue until the vehicle is released. Acting fast protects your wallet. If the post-storage hearing later finds the tow unjustified, the agency that ordered storage becomes responsible for the towing and storage costs.
How to Recover a Vehicle Towed Under 22651 CVC
Follow these steps to get your car back as soon as possible.
- Locate the vehicle. The agency that ordered the tow should have notified the registered and legal owners within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). The notice lists the storage location, reason for removal, and hearing rights. You can also contact local law enforcement or check online resources for towed vehicle information in many cities.
- Obtain a release from the impounding agency. Visit or contact the police department, CHP, or other agency that authorized the tow. Bring proof of identity, ownership (registration or title), and any documents that clear the underlying issue (current registration, paid tickets, valid license, etc.). Some agencies require appointments and charge an administrative fee.
- Pay the towing and storage fees at the storage facility. Present the agency release form. Facilities must accept certain payment methods. Confirm the total in writing.
- Address any hold conditions. For a standard 22651 CVC tow, release usually follows once fees and paperwork are cleared. For 30-day holds under related authority, early release is limited to specific statutory exceptions. The registered owner generally remains responsible for accrued fees even after early release.
- Drive away only after everything is settled. Document every payment and keep copies of releases and notices.
If the registered owner cannot appear, an authorized agent with proper documentation can often handle the process. Legal owners (lenders) have specific rights and notice protections.
How to Contest a 22651 CVC Tow or Impound
You have the right to challenge the validity of the storage. California Vehicle Code Section 22852 requires the agency to offer a post-storage hearing.
The agency must mail or personally deliver notice to the registered and legal owners within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. That notice explains the right to a hearing. You (or your agent) must request the hearing in person, in writing, or by telephone within 10 days of the date on the notice. Once requested, the hearing must occur within 48 hours, again excluding weekends and holidays. The hearing officer cannot be the same person who ordered the tow.
The hearing is informal. The agency must establish reasonable grounds for the storage. Bring evidence: photos of missing or obscured signs, DMV printouts showing current registration, proof that tickets were paid, evidence the vehicle was stolen, or documentation that a licensed person could have taken the car. If the hearing officer finds no reasonable grounds, the agency pays the towing and storage costs, and the vehicle should be released without those charges.
Missing the 10-day request window or failing to attend a scheduled hearing generally waives the right. Even if you lose the administrative hearing, you may still pursue a Government Claims Act claim against the agency (usually within six months) or small claims court for improper towing fees. Document everything: the notice, your request, evidence presented, and the decision.
Common successful challenges include tows for registration that was actually current, missing required signage for certain parking removals, or situations where a reasonable alternative to towing existed.
Practical Tips to Avoid or Minimize Towing Problems
Keep registration current and display the correct tabs. Update your address with the DMV promptly so notices arrive. Pay parking tickets on time or contest them promptly. If you lend your vehicle, confirm the driver has a valid license and insurance. After any arrest or citation involving the vehicle, ask about alternatives to towing when appropriate. Photograph parking signs and your vehicle’s position if you believe a tow may be disputed later.
For drivers dealing with suspended licenses, address the underlying suspension through the DMV or court as quickly as possible. Early resolution can open paths to vehicle release in some cases.
Conclusion
California Vehicle Code Section 22651 gives law enforcement clear authority to tow vehicles that create hazards, violate registration or licensing rules, or accumulate unpaid tickets. Understanding the specific grounds, the rapid accumulation of storage fees, and the strict timelines for post-storage hearings under Section 22852 puts you in a stronger position. Act quickly when your vehicle is towed: locate it, secure the agency release, pay only what is required, and request a hearing within 10 days if the tow appears unjustified. Knowledge of registered owner rights and the appeal process can save hundreds of dollars and restore your vehicle faster. If your situation involves complex licensing issues, a 30-day hold, or significant fees, consult a traffic attorney familiar with California impound laws for personalized guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 22651 CVC cover?
It authorizes peace officers and certain parking or traffic employees to remove vehicles in listed situations, including traffic obstruction, driver arrest, registration expired more than six months, five or more unpaid parking tickets, and various safety or licensing violations.
How long do I have to request a tow hearing?
You must request the post-storage hearing within 10 days of the date on the storage notice. The hearing itself must occur within 48 hours of your request, excluding weekends and holidays.
Can police tow my car for expired registration?
Yes, if the registration has been expired more than six months and officers verify through DMV records that no current registration exists. Shorter periods typically result in citations rather than tows under this section.
Who pays the towing and storage fees if the tow was improper?
If a post-storage hearing determines there were no reasonable grounds for the storage, the agency that employed the person who ordered the tow is responsible for those costs.
How much do impound fees usually cost in California?
Towing often runs $150–$500+, daily storage $40–$80 or more, plus agency administrative fees of $100–$300. Costs rise daily, so prompt action matters.
Can I get my car back during a 30-day hold?
Under related authority such as Section 14602.6, early release is available only in specific situations (stolen vehicle, certain owner or license reinstatement scenarios, and other listed exceptions). The registered owner remains responsible for accrued fees in most cases.
What documents do I need to recover my vehicle?
Typically: government-issued ID, proof of ownership or registration, any required release form from the impounding agency, and proof that underlying issues (tickets, registration, license) have been resolved. The storage facility will also require payment of towing and storage charges.
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