Section 10652.5 Of Chapter 2. Reports Of Stored Vehicles From California Vehicle Code >> Division 4. >> Chapter 2.
10652.5
. (a) Whenever the name and address of the legal owner of a
motor vehicle is known, or may be ascertained from the registration
records in the vehicle or from the records of the Department of Motor
Vehicles, no fee or service charge may be imposed upon the legal
owner for the parking and storage of the motor vehicle except as
follows: (1) The first 15 days of possession and (2) following that
15-day period, the period commencing three days after written notice
is sent by the person in possession to the legal owner by certified
mail, return receipt requested, and continuing for a period not to
exceed any applicable time limit set forth in Section 3068 or 3068.1
of the Civil Code.
(b) The costs of notifying the legal owner may be charged as part
of the storage fee when the motor vehicle has been stored for an
indefinite period of time and notice is given no sooner than the
third day of possession. This subdivision also applies if the legal
owner refuses to claim possession of the motor vehicle.
(c) In any action brought by, or on behalf of, a legal owner of a
motor vehicle to which subdivision (a) applies, to recover a motor
vehicle alleged to be withheld by the person in possession of the
motor vehicle by demanding storage fees or charges for any number of
days in excess of that permitted pursuant to subdivision (a), the
prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees, not
to exceed one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($1,750). The
recovery of those fees is in addition to any other right, remedy, or
cause of action of that party.
(d) This section is not applicable to any motor vehicle stored by
a levying officer acting under the authority of judicial process.