What is the purpose of a stored or impound hearing?

The purpose of a stored or impound hearing is to evaluate the validity of a stored or impounded vehicle. This hearing allows a designated authority, often a law enforcement agency or a city department, to assess whether the conditions under which the vehicle was stored or impounded were lawful and justified.

During the hearing, the owner of the vehicle can present evidence or arguments regarding the validity of the impoundment, such as demonstrating that the vehicle was taken unlawfully or that the necessary requirements for impoundment were not met. Ultimately, this process helps to ensure fair treatment of vehicle owners and provides a mechanism for challenging potentially unjust actions taken by law enforcement concerning vehicle storage or impoundment.

The focus of this hearing is not on issuing fines or directly reviewing driver charges, nor is it solely about deciding whether a vehicle can be released; instead, it centers around verifying the legitimacy of the decision to store or impound the vehicle in the first place.