Car impounding is possible after a DUI arrest

Being stopped for the suspicion of drunk driving is a difficult situation. One point that you might not be prepared for is that your vehicle might be impounded due to the traffic stop. When your vehicle is impounded, you will have more costs associated with the DUI.

The issue that often comes up in these cases is that the car might not be in a place where it is safe to leave it until someone can come get it. In those cases, the officer might contact a tow company to come get the vehicle. The car might then be held at a yard until you can pay the tow fees and the cost of keeping the vehicle there.

While neither Tennessee nor Kentucky has specific laws for when a drunk driver’s vehicle must be impounded, the call about whether to take the action will fall on the police officer who conducts that stop.

Sometimes, officers will allow you to have someone come pick up your vehicle, but this isn’t something that they have to do. If you do try to have them do this, you should make sure that the person has access to the vehicle’s keys and can go pick it up quickly. There is a chance that it will still impounded if it remains in one spot for too long.

This expense might be at the top of your list for things to worry about when you are arrested; however, your primary focus should be your defense. You need a criminal defense and you have to determine how to address the administrative penalties that come with these cases.

Source: FindLaw, “Having Your Car Impounded After a DUI,” accessed May 18, 2018