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Newport News Police Department
3. Any vehicle subject to administrative impoundment will be towed and inventoried. The arresting
officer shall: [61.4.3(c)]
a. Serve notice on the operator that the vehicle will be administratively impounded by completing
a Tow Sheet and presenting a copy to the operator.
b. Make the proper notation for 30 days, or three days, administrative impoundment (as prescribed
by law) on the Tow Sheet.
c. Provide the Magistrate an electronic copy of the original Tow Sheet and deliver the hard copy to
the booking area to be placed into the General District Court, Traffic Division inbox regardless of
the vehicle’s operator is summonsed or arrested.
d. Forward a Tow Sheet copy to the precinct for entry into OnCall.
e. Be prepared to appear in court to present grounds (i.e., defendant's license, registration information,
and DMV driver's record) for the impoundment if the owner, lienholder, or authorized agent of the
vehicle requests an "impoundment hearing."
H. Release of Towed Vehicles from the Vehicle Lot or Forensic Services’ Bay
1. Once adjudication has been established or determined that the vehicle is no longer needed for
evidentiary purposes, the lead investigator will notify the Towing Enforcement Unit within 24 hours.
Immediate arrangements will be made for the lead investigator to sign the Tow Sheet authorizing the
vehicle for release so an authorized person may claim it.
2. Once the vehicle is authorized for release, the authorized person will meet a representative from the
Towing Enforcement Unit at the vehicle lot to pay any associated costs (i.e., tow, administrative, and
storage) before claiming it.
3. A representative from the Towing Enforcement Unit will determine whether fees will be assessed.
a. Towing and administrative fees will not be assessed if:
1) The owner/operator of the vehicle was the victim of a crime for which the vehicle was towed
as evidence or to be processed by Forensic Services.
2) The owner/operator was the innocent party in an offense, and the vehicle was towed as
evidence and/or for processing by Forensic Services.
NOTE: Storage fees will commence 72 hours after the authorized person has been
notified, but has not claimed, the vehicle.
b. Towing and administrative fees will be assessed if:
1) The owner was owner by title only. (e.g., the operator had ultimate and unlimited control of
the vehicle and was the principle to the offense.)
2) The owner/operator was a principle in an offense for which the vehicle was towed pending
confiscation, and the vehicle confiscation was not affirmatively adjudicated.
3) The owner/operator was a principle in an offense for which the vehicle was towed as
evidence and/or processed by Forensic Services, charges were nolle prosse, dismissed, or the
principal was found not guilty.
NOTE: Storage fees will commence 24 hours after the authorized person has been notified
but has not claimed the vehicle.
I. Cancellation/Rejection of Wrecker Service
1. Towing officers may cancel a wrecker after it has been called before its arrival on the scene. If the
owner, or custodian, of a vehicle returns after a tow truck has arrived and is hooking up or attached
to the vehicle, the owner/custodian reclaims the vehicle upon payment of a drop fee, plus payment
of the administrative charge.
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