Unidentifiable vehicles or vehicle parts may require storage at a local towing company. In no case shall these vehicles or vehicle parts be stored at the local towing company for more than 30 days.
If Station/Unit detectives are unable to identify the vehicle/part, T.R.A.P. shall be responsible for the positive identification of the vehicle/ part. If T.R.A.P. is unable to identify the vehicle/part within five working days, Station/Unit detectives shall be notified.
When Station/Unit detectives and T.R.A.P. personnel are unable to positively identify the vehicle/part within five days, Station/Unit detectives shall make arrangements for a court hearing. The hearing date should be at least thirty days in the future to provide for adequate investigative time but not over sixty days. CHP Form 181A, "Notice of Hearing ‑ Impoundment of Vehicle and/or Component Parts," shall be completed and sent within five days of the seizure to the individual from whom the vehicle was taken and to the registered and legal owners indicated by Department of Motor Vehicles records (if determined). This notice gives the date, time, and place of a court hearing which would determine the property's final disposition. The hearing shall be held within ninety days. T.R.A.P. shall provide technical assistance if necessary.
(Refer to the Case Assignment and Reporting Volume 4, Motor Vehicles - Impounded).
Long term storage of these vehicles or parts shall not be granted without a court date set and approval of the Station/Unit Property Lieutenant. (Refer to the Property and Evidence chapter, Vehicles/Parts ‑ Long Term Storage).
If the need exists for long‑term storage, the investigator shall notify Central Property and Evidence.
Prior to placing a vehicle and/or parts into long-term, storage the investigator shall provide the following available information to Central Property and Evidence:
Central Property and Evidence will arrange for the storage of the vehicle. The investigator will be provided with a receipt and property control number.
Each month the long‑term vehicle storage coordinator will contact each investigator, remind the investigator of the vehicle in storage and ask for a disposition.
Central Property and Evidence shall be promptly notified of all releases. Upon notice of release, Central Property and Evidence shall make all notifications and arrangements for the disposition of the vehicle and/or parts. This includes the inspection of the vehicle by Communications and Fleet Management Bureau, if the vehicle is under consideration for Department use.
All releases and copies of all court orders concerning vehicles and/or vehicle parts in long term storage shall be forwarded to Central Property and Evidence.