It's not uncommon for the police to take someone's car away and impound it when they get arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles. There are various reasons why the police can impound somebody's car.

Depending on the reason, how you get your car back will dictate the solution. If your vehicle has been taken away from you because you're driving on a suspended license, then the law says they must keep the vehicle for thirty days.

The only way I've seen people get around this thirty-day impoundment is if the person who owns the car had no involvement with the driver, who was driving on a suspended license. That person can come and show that it's their car, they need it, and they weren't the one who caused it to be impounded.

Usually, if this is handled politely and professionally, the police will release the hold on the car, and the person can get their vehicle back to move on with their life. This moment of relief is a significant step in the process, and it's a reassurance that your vehicle is not lost forever. If, on the other hand, the person with a suspended license owns and drives that car, then they will have to wait thirty days while it's impounded, as it's seized by law. They will also have to pay the fees associated with the suspended license related to the case.

Another reason a car can be held is if the police arrest you. They're entitled to impound and search your vehicle. Once you are released from custody, you should be able to retrieve the car by visiting the police station and following their instructions.

Criminal Case Hold

You will likely have to pay some fees to retrieve the vehicle. If the vehicle's being held as property, that's a different story. I've had many situations where people's cars break down. The police will not release the car because either they are involved in a hit-and-run case and need to investigate and take pictures, or, sadly, they will keep it to ensure that the person involved in the hit-and-run case turns themselves in.

Another scenario involves holding the car for evidence. If you're involved in an accident, the police need to photograph the car and inspect its contents to gather potential evidence. They can put a hold on it. Unfortunately, they're pretty lazy when it comes to this, and they take their time releasing the car.

In this scenario, I typically need to contact the prosecutor and have them acknowledge that the police have had sufficient time to examine the car, take photographs, and conduct a search, among other actions. Then, the prosecutors will typically call the police up and say, "Hey, let the cargo."

Retain a Lawyer To Negotiate Vehicle Release

So, suppose your car is in custody, and you want to try to get it out. In that case, your best solution is to hire an attorney to assist you with whatever criminal case you caused the car to get impounded in the first place. Then, tangential to that representation, your attorney can speak to the powers that be and figure out how to get your car out. This emphasis on the role of an attorney can empower you in this situation. Without an attorney, it can be challenging to retrieve your vehicle, and storage fees can accumulate, potentially leaving you in a position where the car is held for so long that its value is no longer worth the effort of retrieval.

So, if you have a situation where you're charged with a crime, your car has been impounded, and you're trying to get that vehicle out in Los Angeles County, let your attorney do the work for you. Let your attorney advise you.

Sometimes, I advise people exactly how to get their car out and let them take care of their physical activity. They just really needed a strategy on how to get the vehicle out of me. However, for an attorney to provide you with details over the phone, without knowing anything about your specific situation, they likely won't be able to offer you the level of detail you need to successfully resolve the issue with the vehicle.

So, sometimes it takes vigilance to get the vehicle out – you have to put in some time and go to the right places. Other times, it takes patience because the police need to do whatever they need to do related to your vehicle. This emphasis on the need for patience can help you feel better prepared for the process. Eventually, they will let it go. Sometimes, it takes a little bit of both of these. However, if you want to learn the strategy for getting a vehicle out of a DUI case, you'll need to consult with an attorney and let them properly advise you.