Understanding Vehicle Impoundment Laws Post DUI Arrest

 Posted on December 05, 2023 in DUI Law

When pulled over under suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Illinois, you run the risk of being arrested and having your car impounded. Once arrested, the officer who arrested you can have your car towed and impounded if no one is available to drive the vehicle. Once you are released, retrieving your impounded vehicle can be very difficult and expensive. Facing a DUI charge and attempting to retrieve your car from an impound lot can be made easier through a skilled and experienced attorney.

Facing Vehicle Impoundment

After an arrest, leaving your vehicle in the area you were pulled over could become a safety hazard. As such, the police officer will have to have it removed. Having a sober person inside the vehicle at the time of arrest can help save your vehicle from impoundment. However, if there are no sober individuals or any people at all in your car at the time of the arrest, the arresting officer will have no choice but to have the vehicle impounded.

Though the arresting officer is the one to call the towing company to retrieve your vehicle, you will still be on the hook for the costs. This means both the fees for the towing and those for the storage. If you were so intoxicated that upon release, you are still not considered sober enough to drive, the police can have your vehicle placed on hold. Holding times will vary based on prior offenses and can be as low as 12 hours to upwards of 36 hours. Having a sober individual come to pick up your vehicle from the lot is possible if you provide them authorization to do so on your behalf.

Retrieving Your Impounded Vehicle

Your bank account is likely to be hit somewhat hard when attempting to retrieve your vehicle following a DUI. Having your car released will require you to pay administrative fees, depending on your location. Being arrested for a DUI while driving near a park or school will amplify the fees.

Following the administrative fees, you will need to dole out money to pay the towing and storage fees. These fees can be either paid to the towing company or the police department depending on which one holds your vehicle. Storage fees can be very expensive, and the fees will continue to rise the longer your vehicle remains there.

Waiting too long to retrieve your vehicle can actually result in your vehicle being sold off while still leaving you on the hook for the fees. This is why you must work tirelessly to determine the fee amount as soon as possible.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Criminal Defense Attorney

Facing a DUI charge and a vehicle impoundment can be devastating to your wallet and your future. Hopefully, you understand the importance of consulting a Naperville, IL DUI lawyer in a similar situation. Contact Law Office of Philip R. Nathe for a free consultation at 630-416-7600 to go over the details of your case and how best to approach it.