Legal Tips: Removing Unauthorized Vehicles From Private Property
California Legal Expert Explains Landlord Remedy for Transporting Autos
Date: Mar 6, 2008 4:27:00 AM
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Unauthorized and abandoned vehicles parked on private property are a common problem for property owners and their agents. California Vehicle Code §22658 authorizes a property owners and managers to remove unauthorized or abandoned vehicles from private property provided if specific conditions exist and certain procedures are followed.
Within one hour of notifying the local traffic enforcement agency, a property owner or manager may tow an unauthorized or abandoned vehicle parked on private property to the nearest public garage under any of the following circumstances:
- a sign is posted, in clear view, at each entrance to the property. The sign must state that public parking is prohibited, that vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense and must contain the telephone number of the local traffic law enforcement agency. The sign must be at least 17" by 22" and lettering on the sign must be at least one inch in height. The sign may also indicate that a citation may be issued for the violation; or
- the vehicle has been issued a notice of parking violation, and at least 96 hours have passed since the notice was issued; or
- the vehicle is on private property and lacks an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield, or any other major part or equipment necessary to operate safely on the highways, the property owner or agent has notified the local traffic law enforcement agency and 24 hours have passed since that notification; or
- the vehicle is parked on a lot or parcel that has been improved with a single-family residence.
The tow truck operator must obtain written authorization for the tow identifying:
- the vehicle (make, model, VIN and license plate number);
- the person authorizing the tow (name, signature, job title, residential or business address and working telephone number);
- the grounds for removal;
- the time the vehicle was first observed parked illegally; and
- the time the authorization to tow was given
(Kimball, Tirey & St. John specializes in landlord/tenant, collections, business and real estate law, with offices throughout California. This article is informational only and should not be used as legal advice. Check with your attorney before acting. If you have any questions regarding this article, please call 1-800-574-5587.)
The authorization must be provided upon request to the vehicle owner, although the tow truck operator will not provide the vehicle owner with the identification of the person who authorized the tow.If there are 16 or more units, or an onsite owner or manager, the property owner or manager must authorize the tow in writing and be on-site when the tow takes place (although the owner or manager does not have to be physically present at the place where the vehicle is being towed - he/she must simply be present at the property).
For 15 or less units that do not have an onsite owner or manager, the owner or owner's manager is not required to be present nor verify the parking violation; the tenant may verify the violation and request the tow from the tenant's assigned parking space by signed request, email, or by calling and providing a signed request or email within 24 hours to the property owner or manager. The signed request or email must contain the name and address of the tenant and the date and time the tenant requested the tow. The owner or manager must provide the tenant's verification and authorization to the towing company within 48 hours of the tow.
The vehicle's owner or his or her agent can stop a tow in process by immediately moving the vehicle to a lawful location. The tow company can charge the owner of the vehicle ½ of the normal towing fee if the vehicle has already been coupled to the tow truck or lifted off the ground, but not yet removed from the property.
An owner or manager may not enter into an agreement with a tow company granting general authorization to remove vehicles from the property at the tow company's discretion, (known as "patrol" or "contract" towing), except when a vehicle is unlawfully parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane, or in a manner which interferes with any entrance to, or exit from the private property, and only after taking a photograph of the violation.
After a vehicle has been towed from the property, the tow truck operator removing the vehicle must immediately give written notice of the removal. The notice must identify the vehicle, state the grounds for removal, the mileage on the vehicle at the time of removal and the vehicle's new location. If the name and address of the registered or legal owner of the vehicle is known or can be determined, (from the property owner, the vehicle owner, DVM records or otherwise), the notice must be given to the registered and legal owner. If the identity of the owner of the vehicle cannot be determined, or for any other reason the tow truck operator cannot give notice to the vehicle owner, and the vehicle is not returned to the owner within 120 hours, the notice must be sent to the Department of Justice, Stolen Vehicle System. If the vehicle is stored in a public garage, a copy of the notice must also be given to the garage's proprietor.
Improper removal of a vehicle from private property may subject the property owner and/or manager to civil and criminal liability. A property owner or manager may be liable for two to four times the storage or towing charges for failure to comply with applicable requirements (the amount depends on the nature of the violation). A property owner may also be liable for vehicle damage if caused by any intentional or negligent act of any person causing the removal, or removing, the vehicle. However, the tow company will be solely liable for any damage to the vehicle that occurs during transit from the property to the storage
By meeting the requirements of the California Vehicle Code §§22658 and 22853(c) described above, private property owners and managers can control unauthorized or abandoned vehicles on their property while limiting exposure to liability. Because city and counties may have ordinances that contain additional requirements, local ordinances should also be researched and followed.
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what remedy does a buisness owner or tow truck operator have when local police demand dropping car from tow truck and threating arrest of driver if he doesn't comply. police would not allow tow operator to collect a drop fee or leave private lot with car. all signage on lot comply's with legal requiriments and had prior approval of local police dept. every time the police are aware that a tow is in progress they send out 5-6 patrol cars, surround lot and make threats of sueing buisness owner and arrest of tow driver if the car is not unhooked and released whether the car owner is present or not. the police use these tactics and will not leave property until tow driver releases vehicle. the last 3 incidents each involved surrounding parking lot and basicly closing down use of parking lot for minimum of one hour before their departure. the most recent excuse they used in not allowing tow was that phone # of tow operator was not on sign at entrance. i returned to my store and made three signs with tow operators name and phone # to attach next to "approved" private parking signage and when exiting storefront with tape and signs two officers blocked my path ,told me to return inside or i would be arrested for interfearing with an investigation, i explained i wanted to attach tow # to sign and they were insistant that if i didn't return to inside my store i would be arrested. on a prior incident there was a new "private parking" recently installed in the interior of lot that was absent of "police phone #" and one officer took a picture of it claiming we had illeagal signage "non compliant" . i asked of him to take picture of signage at driveway entrance and he refused saying he had the picture he needed. moments later i added "police phone #" to the sign he photographed and asked him if the sign is ok now and he refused to look at corrected sign and stated he has all he needs and we should expect a lawsuit for towing a car with non compliant signage. this police dept is the most unprofessional group of officers i have encountered in my adult life [55]. been in buisness 30+ yrs. 3 other locations currently operating in surrounding communities and 23 yrs at the location we've been attemping to tow cars from. this lot has been over run with illeagal parkers for years and our attempt to remedy it has police treating us as criminals and have they have taken side of illeaglly parked car owners 100% of the time. they have gone to the point of inciteing confrontation between myself and owner of car that had been towed by calling me outside and questioning me in front of hostile individual who's car had been towed, defending them as i explain why we need our parking and never once has an officer defended us or explained our need for parking to an offender and that we are sign compliant and acting completely within the law. A QUESTION I HAVE. is this a common police response in other communities, is the buisness owner who tows a car the villan in the eyes of police in other jurisdictions? ANY SUGGESTIONS ON RELIEF OR ACTION RECOMENDED IS WELCOME HERE
THE LOCATION OF THIS POLICE HARRASMENT IN TOWING OF CARS IS MENLO PARK, CALIF. 94025 THERE ARE 5 BUISNESSES USING 7000 SQ. FT. AND 23 PARKING SLOTS. A BUSY RESTURANT ACROSS THE STREET AND A LOCAL BOUTIQUE THEATER A FEW DOORS DOWN ARE THE MAIN CAUSES. THESE BUISNESSES WILL PUT UP SIGNAGE FOR THIER CUSTOMERS NOTIFYING THAT THEY COULD BE TOWED IF WE RESUME OCCASIONAL TOWING AND REMOVE THE SIGNS IF TOWING IS STOPPED. THE POLICE HARRASMENT HAS US HANDCUFFED LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL THESE OFFENDERS. A PARKING LOT ATTENDENT FOR 12 YRS WAS MODERATLY EFFECTIVE BUT VERY EXPENSIVE. TOWING 3-5 CARS A WEEK GAVE BEST RESULTS BUT POLICE HAVE MADE THAT MOSTLY IMPOSSIBLE WITH THIER ACTIONS AND INTIMIDATION OF LATE. GRACIA
"Within one hour of notifying the local traffic enforcement agency, a property owner or manager may tow an unauthorized or abandoned vehicle parked on private property to the nearest public garage under any of the following circumstances:"
This is what you wrote but needs correction as follows:
(f) An owner or person in lawful possession of private property, or an
association of a common interest development, causing the removal of a
vehicle parked on that property shall notify by telephone or, if impractical,
by the most expeditious means available, the local traffic law enforcement
agency within one hour after authorizing the tow.