Lakewood Police Department
Policy and Procedure
Vehicle Release Procedures 		Effective Date: 06/09/2020
Policy Number: PP-7275 - Vehicle Impound Entry & Release Procedures

B. Procedure
 
1. Vehicle impound reports shall be entered in the Records Management System, vehicle section, according to entry protocol. 
  
2. Records Section personnel shall enter the impound information into the Colorado Crime Information Center (CCIC) vehicle file.

3. The Records Compliance Coordinator shall be responsible for developing and maintaining close liaison with the private company that operates the official police garage (OPG). 

4. The Records Compliance Coordinator shall be responsible for monitoring the operation of the garage under the existing contract and enforcing the rules and regulations concerning the operation of the garage as established by the chief of police. 

5. The Records Compliance Coordinator on a periodic basis, reviews the rules and regulations for the operation of the OPG and recommends changes as appropriate. 

6. The online inventory, maintained by OPG, shall be checked against the automated vehicle impound - recovery log maintained by the Records Section.  All discrepancies shall be reconciled as soon as possible.  

7. The Records Compliance Coordinator shall periodically coordinate with the appropriate investigator to determine if vehicles on "hold" status can be made available for release.  

8. The Records Compliance Coordinator shall be responsible for the timely processing of Department of Revenue Title Information Request form DR2008. 

9. Whenever a vehicle has been unclaimed at the OPG after impoundment or removal of a "hold," it shall be treated as an abandoned vehicle and a form 2008 will be initiated by personnel at the OPG. 
 
10. The Records Compliance Coordinator shall: 

a. Review each 2008 to ensure that it is complete and accurate.  
b. Ensure that OPG personnel have physically inspected each VIN on every vehicle for which a 2008 has been initiated. 
c. Make necessary checks on NCIC/CCIC to determine the registered owner's name and address on any out of state vehicles. 
d. Sign all 2008s initiated by the OPG.  
e. All 2008s shall then be queried on the DMV website to determine vehicle ownership and lienholder name and address.  

11. After the 2008s are queried on the DMV website the following procedures shall be followed: 

a. The letter date shall be entered on the computer.  
 
b. Checks shall be made with the OPG and the computer log to determine if the vehicle has been released to the registered owner. 
 
c. If the vehicle has not been released, a first-class letter shall be sent to the registered owner and any lienholders. 
 
d. Upon a final disposition of vehicles, the original copy of form 2008 shall be attached to the Bill of Sale to be forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the pink copy given to OPG, and the Records Compliance Coordinator will place a copy in file. 

12. An appraisal of all abandoned vehicles shall be done by the Records Compliance Coordinator.  All unclaimed vehicles with an appraised value of $2000 or less shall be given to OPG in lieu of towing and storage fees.  All unclaimed vehicles appraised $2000 or over, are City property.  

13. An automated log shall be kept on all impounded vehicles to include description, impound date, date letter sent to registered owner, appraisal of vehicle, and release date.   

14. The Records Compliance Coordinator will complete a yearend inventory of all Lakewood Police Department impounded vehicles at the Official Police Garage. 
 
15. The following persons may obtain the release of a vehicle in the custody of Police Department's Official Police Garage (OPG):
 
a. The registered owner.
 
b. The spouse of the registered owner.
 
c. The registered owner's legal representative holding power of attorney.
 
d. An individual possessing a notarized Police Department notice of authorization.
 
e. The legal owner holding title to the vehicle (lien holder).
 
f. A notarized letter of authorization from the registered owner.
 
 
16. The Official Police Garage shall release towed vehicles to registered owners, spouse of the registered owner, lien holders and insurance companies if they are provided with one of the following approved forms of documentation, and a valid government issued picture identification.

a.     Current registrations (within 30-day grace period)
 
b.     Original title, front and back (even if not currently registered)
 
c.     Original automobile dealers bill of sale
 
d.     Original State of Colorado Motor Vehicle bill of sale
 
e.     Current proof of insurance
 
f.      Lienholders must provide a Hold Harmless along with the title, front and back.          
 
17. The person meeting the above qualifications must provide personal identification in one of the following forms:
 
a. A current Colorado driver’s license.
b. Military separation papers (DD214).
c. Out-of-state driver’s license.
d. Birth certificate.
e. Expired driver’s license.
f. Other photo identification with signature.
 
18. If the preceding conditions are met and the vehicle is available for release, the requesting party and the Official Police Garage employee shall each sign the appropriate sections of the vehicle impound report.
 
19. The requesting party may then pay all the charges in cash and receive custody of the vehicle.

20. When a vehicle impound report (VIR) is received in the Records Section on a police hold, the investigator shall respond to the Records Section as soon as the vehicle becomes available for release.  The investigator shall sign off the VIR.  It shall be the responsibility of the investigator to notify the registered owner of the status change.  It shall be the Records Section technician’s responsibility to notify OPG of any status change.

21. The Records Section will continue releasing vehicles that have been on an Official Police Hold.  All the above requirements must be met when releasing the said vehicles.  All Hold vehicles will have the signature of the Agent, Detective or designated Lakewood Police Employee on the Vehicle/Impound Recovery Report.

22. The designated party and the Lakewood Police Records employee shall each sign the appropriate sections of the Vehicle/Impound Recovery Report.  A photocopy of the report will be given to the designated party.  The designated party may then go to the Official Police Garage, pay all the charges by cash or credit card, and receive custody of the vehicle.       
 
23. The Records Compliance Coordinator will run a Release Report daily from the Official Police Garage’s website.

24. The Compliance Coordinator will remove the vehicle as Impounded in Niche RMS and cancel the entry from the CCIC/NCIC System.  The paperwork will then be attached to Niche. 
 
C. Rule
 
1. No vehicle shall be released from the Police Department Official Police Garage without the proper release documents.