Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: towing

Quite a few, and they vary from city to city because each police department seems to have its own policy regarding towing and storage. The laws and regulations cover a wide range of towing and storage-related topics, including under what circumstances a vehicle can be towed, when it may be searched, how the contents must be inventoried, which companies may perform towing and storage, what they can charge, and how and when unclaimed vehicles may be sold off.

A large part of the applicable law is in the Vehicle Code, and a large part of that is found in Chapter 10, starting with Section 22650 and running to at least 22856. Other laws and rules are scattered here and there. You might be able to talk your local P.D. into giving you a copy of its procedure manual covering towing, storage, search and inventory procedures, but I'm going to bet they will be suspicious why you want it.

Other statutes, ordinances, rules and policies are scattered here and there; you might ask your city or county attorney what applies locally.

Or, you might try to inquire of an official of a local towing company. Just asking a driver or garageman won't be too helpful; they aren't educated in the law and just know what they've been told so they can do their jobs without getting in too much trouble.

If your asked a more specific question, maybe a LawGuru lawyer could give you a more direct, on-point response.