The tow companies collect impound fees or sometimes sell the vehicles if they are not picked up after 30 days.  Okay next question.....How does someone qualify to be one of those tow companies?    What a racket...Someone steals your car....drives w/o valid license...gets caught....car is towed and the poor owner has to fork over money to get his stolen car back.  The fee goes up daily and many times the owners are not contacted until there are hundreds in impound fees accrued.  At least that's what I've heard.

Notatroll is right.  I have a car that is caught up this situation.  My brother was driving one of my cars without a license that I had left in Bakersfield for my aunt.  They charged me 148.00 for the towing and 25.00 per day for storage.  I received noticed of the siutaion around January 10th (the car was towed on Dec. 24th)  Apparently they sold the car on January 30th.  I am not bothering with it since it is not worth trying to get it out (it's a 1987 Cadillac with a lot of problems).

If the car is NOT claimed within a certian time--and it depends at whichever impound yard it is at--then the car is sold to recover the tow and storage fees that it has accumlated...

If the car is still owned by a finance company or bank-then it's up to them to get the vehicle--still owing the fees...but each and every tow/impound yard has their own regulations as to how long they will hold that car if not claimed...

you would think the city would be pro-active and attempt to strike a deal with the tow companies to get a percentage of the money from the car sales

notatroll is right, it is a huge racket. A friend totalled her car last month in an accident that wasn't her fault, and was taken from the scene in an ambulance. No one ever told her anything, so she was on her own as to what to do about the car and trying to get her personal belongings after she was released from the hospital. She tracked the car down at a tow lot, and had to pay them several hundred dollars in fees even though it was going to scrap. They gave her the belongings that were found in the car and around the accident scene, but they were mysteriously unable to locate her laptop computer.

As far as the impounds go, the city or county should be getting the money instead of  tow companies. They should arrest the unlicensed drivers and not release them until the fines are paid. They should also arrest people who drive without current registration tags, and not release them until the money is paid, along with an additional fine for the arrest.

Speaking of unlicensed drivers, they let my brother go (with a ticket) and towed my car which is insured and registered.  I had no idea where it was until I received noticed. 

I understand what they were trying to do.  I just wish I could have been informed as they were towing it.  I could have procured the car before the fees got too crazy.  For surely they have my contact info by tracing the registration and insurance information.

Speaking of unlicensed drivers, they let my brother go (with a ticket) and towed my car which is insured and registered.  I had no idea where it was until I received noticed. 

Your brother sounds like mine.

What ever makes anyone think that licenses and registration tags make safe drivers? It is ALL about money, especially registration. DMV is nothing but a huge racket. Don't be fooled, it has almost nothing to do with safety and everything to do with revenue. For example, if you go to get your car registered, and it doesn't pass smog, they will give you an extension, provided, of course, that you fork over the cash. And now, as of 1/1/09, those red numbered temporary tags will cost you another fifty bucks. If you get pulled over, the cop won't give you a ticket for expired tags even if you don't have the temporary one, as long as you have paid the "fees".

As for the county not making any money on the sales of impounded vehicles, I would like to know where that information came from. I wouldn't be too sure about that.

What ever makes anyone think that licenses and registration tags make safe drivers?

Not safe drivers; just drivers who can be held responsible.  Or at least found.

Okay everyone here is something that I did not see anyone say here!   First of all the city of bakersfield does make money on your impounded vehicle. Everyone who has a vehicle impounded for no license must go to the police department and pay a processing fee of $98 to get a vehicle release that needs to be taken to the impound yard to get your vehicle. Stolen and recovered vehicles there is no fee. All other vehicles that are impounded have a $50 release fee. The towing company is required by law to process a lien after the vehicle has been in their possesion for 72 hours. If you are not receiving the notice for more than 10 days after the vehicle is impounded I would investigate why it took so long for possible recovery of additional days because you did not get your notice in a timely manner. There is a law on the books that if a driver does not have a license the vehicle may be impounded for 30 days. The city of bakersfield interprets that law with (it must be) impounded for 30 days. CHP and Sherriffs dept do not automatically impound for 30 days as the city does.  The towing companies that are on the city list for impounds make over $750 for each vehicle they get for 30 days and that is after they pay the driver, the lien processing fee. Most of the fee is for holding it in storage for you at whatever the city contract with them is. If you are a tow company trying to get in on the city list forget it. Hope this clears up any confusion or misunderstanding. Bottom line the city does make money.

Now we're learning....vehicle release from law enforcement agency--money....notification by registered mail-money...towing and storage fees-money...mileage-money..after business hours vehicle release-money....THIS doesn't include just wanting to get your property...NOW you need a property release from law enforcement-money...etc..etc...etc....

Is it REALLY worth it.....so people pay MORE than what the damn thing is worth---cracks me up too...the sound system is worth MORE than the vehicle....but then again...I've seen some SWEEETT stuff roll in and get sold by 'private' buyers...and for BUCKS....

Thank you eagleinfaith for clarifing that the city does make money on the impounds.  CHP is loosing out on a huge revenue there as they impound numerous vehicles a day!  Granted, they don't do enough 30 impounds, not sure why.  I said in another blog that CHP needs to start charging fee's to get vehicles out of storage/impound so they can begin bailing out the State money issues and State workers such as myself wouldn't have to take days off without pay.  It's crap!   

When I lived in LA there were a lot of allegations of tow companies towing and "impounding" cars for no legal reason.  I had one friend visiting from Bakersfield I had to pick up and lodge for the night because his car was towed for being "in a red zone".  Of course this was never proved and he never received a ticket, but the tow company got $130 out of it before he got his car back.  I'm surprised this hasn't happened here.  If only the city would resort to these tactics, we could increase revenues tenfold!

OK, so the tow co tows and impounds your [edit.] 87 Caddy. After 30 plus days, they have paid the tow truck driver's and office staffs salary, paid his payroll taxes, paid his workers comp, paid for their insurance, paid fuel for the tow truck, paid rent or taxes on the tow co property, paid the lien company fees. Then if you don't come and claim your vehicle after having it impounded for a violation of State law, then they will be  lucky to be able to sell your [edit.] for $50. Humm...

I'm certain they'll sell that [edit.] for about 1-2k easily.  It's got all that gaudy gold trim and leather seats.  For some odd reason, gangsters and hoods love those [edit.] caddies.  The point I was making was that I wished I would have been notified that I had the option of saying keep it or whatever.  I'll get over losing the car as I didn't drive it anyway.  Btw, do you really think a Towing company would waste their time on picking up that car with that type of overhead?  Do you really think people will pick up their cars for the tow company unless it is actually worth it?  Since I got the car for free (It was my dads)I have no real interest in paying to get a car I don't even use.  I got three more that I use.

Let me know if you get 50 bucks for it.  I know some folks you could resell it to and make a little jack.

C'mon, Jason. I only typed [edit.] like the person above me did and it's not the same as writing "piece of [edit.].  I've written way worse than that.  What if I wrote "[edit.]"? Is that off-limits, too.

I think you're pretty nice and should continue to be niggardly with me in the realm of censorship.

Try this:::::: call BPD-KCSO-CHP and find out WHICH impound yards are on law enforcement rotation....THEN call those impound yards and see when their next auction of impounded vehicles are going to be held...this is just a start.....

Thanks for the info, Ling.  I'm in OK training right now but I'll let my family know. 

Again I have no money invested in the car so I can deal with the loss.  If anyone is interested in a tricked out gangster car...

jfrancis~ think it will help any with my street cred? I am well on my way to 57,and have no "bling" ... lol

It sure will.  But start with little things like a do rag and some 'ice' on the grill and you'll be nice, son.

Thanks for the advice! I'll be sure to give you a shout out at the Grammys!  ;-)

You TWO got me laughing.....THANK YOU HOMZ

Keep reppin' for yo' peeps, Sage.  You need to always keep it real...

LOL~ "I'll never forget the little people"...no wait that's my 40's star talk... where is my urban slang dictionary?

Ling~ I am a little disappointed you do not believe in my rap future...just you wait! LOL

Your new name is Sagefizl Fashizl...

ROFLOL...and that is quite the sight to see!

That's right me n' Beyonce/Sasha~ we cool...

Tell Jay-Z I said "what up?"