It is the policy of the Altadena Station that vehicles of arrested persons shall be legally parked and locked at the location of arrest, if there is no other reason to store or impound the vehicle. If an arrested person requests that his or her vehicle be stored, it shall be noted in the report that the vehicle was stored “per driver’s request”. The vehicle may be stored or impounded for other sections of the Vehicle Code if they are applicable or in cases when there is doubt as to the ownership of the vehicle (possible stolen).
There is an exception to this order for the vehicles of persons arrested in canyon areas. The canyon areas are considered locations in which the vehicle is likely to be damaged by vandalism or stolen and it is an accepted station practice to store the vehicle if the driver is arrested and there is no responsible person available to accept custody of the vehicle. It is also permissible to store a vehicle that cannot be secured.
This order is intended to limit the use of 22651(h)(1) C.V.C. to store vehicles. It is not intended to curtail storing vehicles under other Vehicle Codes permitting removal of vehicles.