By As Law Online 
Imagine returning to where you parked only to find an empty space and a tow slip. Or worse, getting pulled over and watching your car disappear on a flatbed. For thousands of California drivers every year, this is the reality under CVC 22651. This section of the California Vehicle Code gives peace officers and certain authorized employees the power to remove vehicles in specific situations.
This guide breaks down exactly when officers can tow under cvc 22651, what happens next, how much it can cost, and the practical steps you can take to get your vehicle back or challenge the removal. Whether you are dealing with expired registration, unpaid parking citations, a suspended license, or a traffic obstruction, the goal is clear: give you the information needed to act quickly and protect your rights.
What Is CVC 22651?
California Vehicle Code Section 22651 authorizes a peace officer or a regularly employed and salaried employee who directs traffic or enforces parking laws to remove a vehicle from a highway, public land, or certain other locations under listed circumstances. The authority is limited to the territorial limits where that officer or employee may act.
The statute serves public safety and traffic flow goals. It is not a blanket power. Each removal must fit one of the specific grounds in the code. Related sections, such as 22650, emphasize that any removal is a seizure under the Fourth Amendment and must be reasonable. Courts have stressed that statutory authorization alone does not automatically make an impound constitutional. The removal still needs to serve a genuine community caretaking purpose based on the facts of the situation.
Key terms you will see throughout this process include vehicle impoundment, impound lot fees, peace officer authority, and lien sale auction. Understanding these helps you navigate the system without unnecessary delay or cost.
Common Reasons a Vehicle Can Be Towed Under CVC 22651
The statute lists numerous specific situations. Here are the most frequently applied grounds, explained in plain language with real-world context.
Traffic Obstruction and Safety Hazards
Under subdivisions (a) and (b), officers may remove a vehicle left unattended on a bridge, viaduct, causeway, tube, or tunnel if it obstructs traffic. They may also tow a vehicle parked or left standing on a highway in a position that obstructs the normal movement of traffic or creates a hazard.
Example: A stalled car in a travel lane on a busy surface street or a vehicle stopped just past a blind curve with no lights can qualify. These tows often happen quickly because of the immediate safety risk.
Blocking Driveways or Fire Hydrants
Subdivision (d) allows removal when a vehicle is illegally parked so as to block the entrance to a private driveway and it is impractical to move it to another point on the highway. Subdivision (e) covers vehicles that prevent access by firefighting equipment to a fire hydrant.
If your car is blocking a driveway and the owner cannot easily shift it, expect a tow. The same applies near fire hydrants when emergency access is compromised.
Freeway and Extended Parking Situations
Subdivision (f) permits towing of a vehicle (other than highway maintenance equipment) stopped, parked, or left standing for more than four hours on the right-of-way of a freeway with full access control, when the driver cannot move it under its own power.
Local ordinances often pair with the code for 72-hour parking rules. A vehicle parked or left standing upon a highway for 72 or more consecutive hours in violation of a local ordinance authorizing removal can be towed. Signs may also authorize removal for street cleaning, repair, or construction when posted at least 24 hours in advance.
Stolen or Embezzled Vehicles
Subdivision (c) allows removal when a vehicle is found on a highway or public land and a prior report indicates it is stolen, or a complaint and warrant charge that it was embezzled. In these cases, the focus is recovery and investigation rather than owner penalty.
Driver Arrest or Incapacitation
Under subdivision (h), if an officer arrests a person driving or in control of a vehicle for an alleged offense and takes that person into custody (as required or permitted by law), the vehicle may be removed. This commonly occurs after DUI arrests or other custody situations.
Subdivision (g) covers cases where the person in charge of the vehicle is incapacitated by physical injury or illness and cannot provide for its custody or removal. After an accident that leaves the driver unable to move the car, a tow is often ordered.
Registration, Licensing, and Citation Issues
Several related grounds address paperwork and compliance problems:
- Vehicles with no license plates or other evidence of registration displayed may be impounded until the owner provides identity and a California address.
- Registration expired more than six months can trigger a tow once the officer verifies the status through DMV records.
- Five or more unpaid parking citations (often called scofflaw situations) can lead to impoundment. Related provisions address vehicles known to have five or more notices of parking violation to which the owner has not responded.
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license, or never having obtained a license, can result in towing under the authority linked to cvc 22651 and companion sections. In some cases, a separate 30-day hold under other Vehicle Code provisions may apply.
These registration and citation-based tows are among the most common sources of frustration for drivers who believed a simple ticket was the only consequence.
Other Authorized Situations
Additional grounds include vehicles creating ongoing alarm noise near schools or in residential areas after officers cannot locate the owner within a short window, and certain advertising or sideshow-related situations under companion sections. Peace officer authority remains the common thread.
The Vehicle Retrieval Process Step by Step
Getting your vehicle back after a cvc 22651 tow follows a predictable sequence. Acting quickly limits storage costs.
- Locate the vehicle. Contact the law enforcement agency that ordered the tow (local police, sheriff, or California Highway Patrol). Provide the license plate or VIN. They will tell you which impound lot holds the vehicle and whether any holds apply.
- Obtain a release authorization. Most agencies require you to visit their station or designated office first. Bring valid photo identification, proof of ownership (current registration or title), and proof of insurance. If the tow involved unpaid parking citations, expired registration, or a suspended license, you must show that those issues have been addressed (payment receipts, renewed registration, valid license). An administrative fee is typically charged at this stage.
- Go to the impound lot. Present the release form, identification, ownership documents, and a licensed driver if you cannot drive the vehicle yourself. Pay all outstanding towing and storage charges. The facility must provide an itemized invoice.
- Retrieve personal property. You are entitled to collect personal belongings during normal business hours without first paying the full tow and storage fees. Facilities must release the vehicle once requirements are met.
If a 30-day hold applies (often linked to unlicensed or suspended-license driving under related statutes), early release may still be possible in limited situations, such as when the vehicle was stolen, the registered owner was not the driver, or certain hardship or license reinstatement conditions are met. Check with the impounding agency for the specific early-release criteria that apply.
Understanding Towing Costs and Impound Lot Fees
Costs vary by jurisdiction and the agreement between the agency and the tow company, but they add up fast. Typical components include:
- Towing fee (often several hundred dollars for a standard vehicle, higher for larger or specialized recovery).
- Daily storage fees (commonly in the range of $70 to $85 per day for a standard passenger vehicle under current CHP maximums, with indoor rates sometimes higher).
- Administrative release fee charged by the law enforcement agency (can range from under $100 to several hundred dollars depending on the city or county).
- Possible after-hours gate fees, transfer charges, or lien fees if the vehicle remains longer.
Thirty days of storage alone can exceed $2,000. Rates for private-property tows are generally capped at the approved rates for the primary local law enforcement agency. Facilities must post rates and provide itemized invoices. Overcharging can create civil liability for the storage facility.
Pay attention to payment methods. Some lots accept credit cards; others require cash or certified funds. Act within the first few days whenever possible to avoid escalating storage charges.
How to Challenge an Improper Tow
California law provides a post-storage hearing under Vehicle Code Section 22852. This is your primary tool to contest the validity of a cvc 22651 removal.
The agency must mail or deliver notice of the storage to the registered and legal owners within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). The 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.
The hearing must occur within 48 hours of the request (again excluding weekends and holidays). The hearing officer cannot be the same person who ordered the tow. The agency bears the burden of establishing the authority for and validity of the removal.
If the hearing finds the storage was not justified, the agency is responsible for the towing and storage costs. Even if you lose the hearing, you retain other options, such as civil claims in appropriate cases or seeking advice from a defense attorney familiar with vehicle seizures.
Practical tips: Document everything. Photograph the scene if possible before or after the tow. Keep copies of all notices, receipts, and communications. Request the hearing promptly even if you plan to retrieve the vehicle first. Paying the fees does not waive your right to challenge the legality of the tow.
Pitfalls to Avoid and Practical Advice
Delay is the most expensive mistake. Storage fees accrue daily. Ignoring the notice can lead to a lien sale auction of the vehicle after the statutory period.
Do not assume a passenger with a valid license can always take the car after an arrest. Officers have discretion, and the statute authorizes removal once the driver is taken into custody.
Verify registration and address any outstanding citations before they accumulate. Five or more unpaid parking tickets is a common trigger. Keep proof of current registration and insurance accessible.
If the vehicle has a lienholder (bank or credit union), they may also seek release. Communicate with them early.
For drivers with suspended licenses, understand that towing under these provisions is common and that related 30-day holds carry significant financial impact. Reinstating the license and obtaining proper insurance can open pathways to earlier recovery in qualifying cases.
Conclusion
CVC 22651 gives law enforcement clear authority to tow vehicles that create hazards, block access, lack proper registration, carry multiple unpaid citations, or are left behind after a driver is taken into custody. Knowing the specific grounds, the retrieval steps, the typical costs, and the post-storage hearing process puts you in a stronger position when the unexpected happens.
Act quickly, gather the required documents, and request a hearing if the tow appears improper. For complex situations involving 30-day holds, repeated issues, or potential constitutional questions, consult a qualified California traffic or defense attorney who can review the facts of your case. Taking informed action is the best way to limit costs and protect your vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CVC 22651 cover?
It lists the specific circumstances under which a peace officer or authorized parking enforcement employee may remove a vehicle from a highway or certain other locations in California.
Can police tow my car for expired registration?
Yes, particularly when registration has been expired for more than six months and the officer verifies the status. Display of no plates or registration evidence can also lead to impoundment.
How do I get my car back after a CVC 22651 tow?
Contact the ordering agency for a release form, bring identification, ownership proof, and any required corrective documentation, then pay the towing and storage fees at the impound lot.
What are typical towing and storage costs?
Towing fees often start in the hundreds of dollars. Daily storage commonly runs $70–$85 or more for a standard vehicle. Administrative fees and other charges add to the total. Costs rise quickly with each day of storage.
Can I challenge a tow under CVC 22651?
Yes. Request a post-storage hearing under Vehicle Code 22852 within 10 days of the notice. The hearing examines whether the storage was valid. If it was not, the agency may be responsible for the costs.
What happens if I leave the vehicle in the impound lot too long?
After the applicable period, the storage facility can initiate a lien sale auction. Unclaimed vehicles may be sold, and you can still face deficiency claims for unpaid fees.
Does a suspended license automatically mean a 30-day impound?
Related statutes often authorize longer holds in suspended or unlicensed driving cases. Early release options exist in limited circumstances. Check the specific hold and agency policies promptly.
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