Section 2480 Of Article 5. Renderers And Transporters Of Inedible Kitchen Grease From California Vehicle Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 5.
2480
. (a) A peace officer may remove a vehicle, within the
territorial limits in which the officer may act, if the vehicle is
involved in the theft or movement of stolen inedible kitchen grease.
If a peace officer removes a vehicle pursuant to this subdivision,
the officer may, after citing or arresting the responsible person,
seize the vehicle, which may be impounded for up to 15 days.
(b) The registered and legal owner of a vehicle removed and seized
pursuant to subdivision (a) or their agents shall be provided the
opportunity for a storage hearing to determine the validity of the
storage in accordance with Section 22852.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650)
of Division 11 or any other law, an impounding agency shall release
a motor vehicle to the registered owner or his or her agent prior to
the conclusion of the impoundment period described in subdivision (a)
under any of the following circumstances:
(A) If the vehicle is a stolen vehicle and reported as stolen in
accordance with then existing state and local law.
(B) If the legal owner or registered owner of the vehicle is a
rental car agency.
(C) If, prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period, a
citation or notice is dismissed under Section 40500, criminal charges
are not filed by the district attorney because of a lack of
evidence, or the charges are otherwise dismissed by the court.
(2) A vehicle shall be released pursuant to this subdivision only
if the registered owner or his or her agent presents a currently
valid driver's license to operate the vehicle and proof of current
vehicle registration, or if ordered by a court.
(d) A vehicle seized and removed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall
be released to the legal owner of the vehicle, or the legal owner's
agent, on or before the 15th day of impoundment if all of the
following conditions are met:
(1) The legal owner is a motor vehicle dealer, bank, credit union,
acceptance corporation, or other licensed financial institution
legally operating in this state, or is another person, not the
registered owner, holding a security interest in the vehicle.
(2) The legal owner or the legal owner's agent pays all towing and
storage fees related to the impoundment of the vehicle. No lien sale
processing fees shall be charged to a legal owner who redeems the
vehicle on or before the seventh day of impoundment.
(3) The legal owner or the legal owner's agent presents
foreclosure documents or an affidavit of repossession for the
vehicle.
(e) (1) The registered owner or his or her agent is responsible
for all towing and storage charges related to the impoundment, and
any administrative charges authorized under Section 22850.5.
(2) If the vehicle is a rental vehicle, the rental car agency may
require the person to whom the vehicle was rented to pay all towing
and storage charges related to the impoundment and any administrative
charges authorized under Section 22850.5 incurred by the rental car
agency in connection with obtaining possession of the vehicle.
(3) The owner is not liable for any towing and storage charges
related to the impoundment if acquittal or dismissal occurs.
(4) The vehicle shall not be sold prior to the defendant's
conviction.