Car Towed? Booted? Got Parking Tickets? Get Answers You Need on City’s New Interactive FAQs Page

A total of five unpaid parking tickets in Pasadena may lead to your vehicle being towed and impounded, the Pasadena Department of Transportation said in announcing the publishing of a new interactive parking FAQ page on the City’s website.

It also said that if you made any payments to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) but did not inform the City of Pasadena, your vehicle may not be released, the Department warned.

These are some of the factoids you find on that web page. [Click here to see.]

The Department also reminded car owners to read and be familiar about Pasadena’s Vehicle Towing and Release Policy Manual, which the Pasadena Police Department updated in June 2018.

According to the policy, a vehicle may be towed when a driver is found to be driving on a suspended or revoked license (excluding suspensions for failure to pay child support), or if their license is expired or they’ve never been issued a license; or if the vehicle is involved in a traffic collision.

Abandoned vehicles that are believed stolen may also be towed and impounded, as well as private vehicles that have been abandoned, wrecked or dismantled and are now a nuisance to the community.

The vehicle may be subjected to a 30-day impound and storage, and the driver is entitled to a hearing regarding the impound and storage.

Hearings are conducted by the Pasadena police Traffic Section Lieutenant or his/her designee. In the absence of the traffic supervisor, this hearing may also be conducted by any department Lieutenant or Sergeant.

During release, the official towing contractor may not release any impounded vehicle unless a release copy of the Vehicle Report, endorsed by a law enforcement official of the Pasadena Police Department, is presented.

The legal owner of the vehicle or his agent will also be required to present other documents, including proof of ownership, a valid driver’s license, and a “Hold Harmless” letter, among others, before the vehicle is released.

Pasadena Police Chief John Perez said the City currently makes use of the services of seven different tow companies to help facilitate and average of 1,600 annual Police Department impounds and 900 annual Parking Enforcement impounds in Pasadena.

These towing companies charge towing and impounding fees that range from as low as $15 for repossessions to as high as $212 for 30-day impounds, the police department said.

The City also currently charges $42 per vehicle for daily storage fees.

Pasadena also has a number of unique policies on vehicle parking that visitors to the City may not be familiar with, such as a prohibition on overnight parking and the designation of Preferential Parking Areas in the City.

The Department of Transportation, as well as the Pasadena Police Department, advises motorists and vehicle owners to keep themselves updated by visiting the parking webpage, at www.cityofpasadena.net/transportation/parking-services/parking-services-faq/#faq14, or visiting their office at 221 East Walnut Street in Pasadena.

To view a copy of the Vehicle Towing and Release Police Manual, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/Policy-510-Vehicle-Towing-Policy.pdf.