Vehicle Impoundment – FAQ

If a vehicle is deemed to have been operated by an impaired driver, Law Enforcement Officers in B.C. are now able to impound a vehicle in storage for up to 30 days. This can have a serious impact on an individual’s ability to work, or provide care to a family.

If you’d like help with an impaired driving charge or your vehicle has been impounded, contact Mulligan Defence Lawyers today:

If the officer thinks that the impoundment of your vehicle is necessary in order to prevent you from driving it during the prohibition, then your vehicle will be impounded for the 3-day or 7-day period, as the case may be.

Then the officer MUST impound your vehicle for a 30 day period.

Yes.

Then those amounts will constitute a lien on your vehicle.  The tow company may then take action, up to and including selling your vehicle.

No. Successfully appealing the 3-day, 7-day, 30-day, or 90-day suspension will cancel or vary the impoundment accordingly.

No.

Yes. You have 15 days from the date of the impoundment to file an application for a review.

If the 30-day impoundment was due to either a “warn” or a “fail” on a screening device, then the owner must satisfy the superintendent that either the car was taken without the knowledge or consent of the owner, or that the owner exercised “reasonable care and diligence” in entrusting the car to the driver.

If the 30-day impoundment was due to either a “warn” or a “fail” on a screening device, then no. However, there may be circumstances where you can apply for an early release of the vehicle (see below).

The owner or someone authorized by the owner can apply for the release (within 15 days) of an impounded car as long as s/he holds a valid licence. The applicant will need to satisfy the superintendent that a substantial portion of the business income is dependent on the impounded vehicle, or that economic hardship would result to the business if the car is not released.

Anyone who is living with the owner may apply, within 15 days, for the release of the impounded car. The applicant will need to satisfy the superintendent that the applicant needs the car for work, school, or medical treatment AND that there is no reasonable alternative form of transportation, including public transportation.

If the impoundment was for 30 days or more, you must make an application to the superintendent, as well as pay the towing, storage, and other related costs. If the impoundment was for less than 30 days, no application need to be made, but you still need to pay the towing, storage, and related costs.

The superintendent MAY cover the costs of any wrongful impoundment. However, if the vehicle is released because it is the company car or a family vehicle (see above), the applicant will be responsible for the towing, storage, and related costs before the vehicle is released.