How Does An Impound Lot Work? Having a car impounded is undoubtedly a nightmare that everyone would like to avoid. This is because trying to get it out of impound is extremely difficult. Regardless of how difficult getting a car out of impound can be, the consequences of doing otherwise are worse.
Impound lots have a limit to the number of days that they can keep your car. Failure to come and get it within the set limit, then you basically forfeit ownership of your car to the impound lot. We shall get into this later.
Before getting into the details of how an impound lot works, it is essential that we understand what an impound lot is.
What Is An Impound?
If you’ve ever witnessed a car getting towed away, there are chances that it could be getting impounded. The tow usually takes the car to an impound lot, until the owner can pay the required fees or fine. As mentioned above, failure to do so can lead to the forfeit in car ownership to the impound.
A car can get impounded for a number of reasons, which may or may not involve the police or law enforcement. If the police are involved, chances are the car got confiscated from individuals connected to the illegal use of drugs. The car remains within the impound lot pending an investigation, or as an instrument necessary for the investigation.
The car may have also gotten confiscated from the owner as punishment for drunk driving. If this is the case, you as the owner of the car cannot regain ownership until you are cleared of the crime. Additionally, you will have to pay a fine as well as clear all the unpaid ticket fines.
If the car, however, is simply impounded by a business, then all you have to do is pay impound fees. This money goes straight to the impound lot, and not to the government, as would be the case if the police were involved. In this instance, a car can get towed away to an impound lot for simply parking in a private area.
Additionally, if you choose to park within business premises, and are not visiting the said business, your car can also get impounded. Normally, under such circumstances, the business owner can simply call an impound lot to come tow away your car.
What Happens After A Car Is Impounded?
Impound lots usually have their own tow trucks to tow away any cars that may be violating the law. Please note, that Laws vary according to different states. Making the effort to learn the Laws within your state can save you from a lot of unnecessary trouble.
When a car gets impounded, the owner of the lot has to assign it an identification number. The impound lot owner also keeps records of the cars that get impounded. These records help them track how long a car has remained within the lot. The longer it stays, the higher the fees.
What Happens If My Car Gets Damaged?
More often than not, the Law would hold the individual responsible for damaging the car liable. This is not the case when it comes to impound lots and the damages they cause. If your car happens to be towed away to an impound lot and gets damaged, you will more than likely have to pay for the damages yourself.
Hence, it is always better to avoid having your car from getting impounded at all. You can do this by adhering to the Law and keeping to the set rules ad regulations of the state.
Failure To Reclaim An Impounded Vehicle
As it has already been mentioned before, failure to reclaim your car by paying the necessary fines and fees may lead to serious consequences. Usually, the consequence is that the car will no longer belong to you, but to the impound lot.
Depending on the state you’re in and the reason for impound, it is likely that the car will be kept for at least 30 days. During this period, you will have some time to come up with the money to pay for the fine or required fees.
After your time has expired, the impound lot will gain the right to sell the car if they want to. Additionally, the owner of the impound lot can choose to sell that car for scrap metal, or sell its parts. So it is in your best interest to pay the required fees on time.
In conclusion, having a car impounded can lead to a long list of inconveniences and difficulties. From having to part with a lot of money to cover the necessary fees or fine, it can be incredibly stressful. It is far better to avoid breaking the law in the first place.
Always pay your tickets on time, avoid parking in a private area and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol. The aforementioned instances can get you in real trouble with the law, not to mention have your car towed to an impound lot.
If you do get in trouble with the Law for drunk driving, you can always hire a DUI lawyer. With the assistance of a lawyer, you can have your car released early and at a much lower cost, fee or fine. However, it is always advisable to have a sober friend drive if you had been drinking.