Quick answer: In California, the main law that lets police and parking officers tow a car from a public street is California Vehicle Code (CVC) section 22651. It lists the specific situations in which a vehicle may be removed, from blocking a driveway to having registration that expired more than six months ago. If your car was towed in Los Angeles by LAPD, LADOT parking enforcement, the CHP, or the Sheriff’s Department, the reason will almost always trace back to one of the subdivisions in this section, or to a related section that it points to.
This guide walks through the parts of CVC 22651 that matter most to drivers in Los Angeles, what each one means in plain English, and what to do if you think the tow was not justified. It is general information written by the TowCars team, not legal advice. Laws change, so always read the current text on the official California Legislative Information site linked throughout this page.
Who can tow under CVC 22651
The section opens by saying who has the authority: a peace officer, or a “regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws” of the city, county or state agency where the car is located. In practical terms for Los Angeles drivers, that covers sworn officers such as LAPD and CHP officers, and also civilian parking enforcement staff who work for the city. They can only act inside the territory where they have authority.
This matters because a public tow is different from a private property tow. If a property owner or apartment manager had your car removed from a private lot, a different section, CVC 22658, applies. We cover that situation in our guide to being towed from an apartment complex lot and in our overview of tow-away sign requirements.
The reasons a car can be towed, grouped by situation
CVC 22651 has many lettered subdivisions. Rather than list them in order, it helps to group them by the kind of situation a driver is actually in.
1. The car is a safety hazard or blocking traffic
- Bridges and tunnels (a): a car left unattended on a bridge, viaduct, causeway, tube or tunnel where it obstructs traffic.
- Obstructing or endangering traffic (b): a car parked or left standing on a highway in a way that blocks normal traffic or creates a hazard. In the Vehicle Code, “highway” broadly includes public roads and streets, not only freeways.
- Freeway shoulders (f): a vehicle stopped on the right-of-way of a fully access-controlled freeway for more than four hours when the driver, if present, cannot move it under its own power.
- Blocking another car (r): an illegally parked vehicle that blocks the movement of a legally parked vehicle.
If you break down on an LA freeway, the four-hour rule is a good reason not to leave your car on the shoulder and come back tomorrow. Our Los Angeles towing guide covers what to do after a freeway breakdown, and LA County also runs a free Metro Freeway Service Patrol on major freeways, which we explain in a separate guide.
2. Driveways and fire hydrants
- Driveways (d): a car illegally parked so it blocks the entrance to a private driveway, when it is impractical to move it to another spot on the street.
- Fire hydrants (e): a car illegally parked so it prevents fire equipment from reaching a hydrant, when it is impracticable to move it elsewhere on the street.
These are among the most common reasons for tows in dense LA neighborhoods where curb space is tight. Note the wording: the law allows removal when moving the car a short distance along the street is not practical. In reality, that usually means a tow truck takes it to a storage yard.
3. Posted no-parking zones and street work
- Street cleaning, repair, construction or utilities (l): if the street is needed for that work, a local ordinance prohibits parking, and signs warning that vehicles may be removed were posted at least 24 hours before removal.
- Special uses of the street (m): if a local authority has approved use of the street for a purpose other than normal traffic, such as moving oversized equipment, and signs were posted at least 24 hours in advance.
- Tow-away zones (n): anywhere a local authority has banned parking by ordinance or resolution and authorized removal. Except for two narrow advertising-vehicle cases, signs must be posted giving notice of removal.
For drivers in Los Angeles this is where temporary paper “No Parking” signs, peak-hour tow-away lanes and posted restrictions come in. If you are unsure what a sign means, the safest choice is not to park there. We go into temporary signs in more depth in our guide to temporary no-parking signs in LA.
4. Leaving a car parked too long
- 72 hours (k): a car parked or left standing on a street for 72 or more consecutive hours in violation of a local ordinance that authorizes removal.
- Common interest developments (q): a car parked more than 24 hours on a portion of road inside a common interest development, where required signs are posted and a local resolution or ordinance applies.
- Rest areas (s): most vehicles stopped more than eight hours in a roadside rest area or viewpoint (ten hours for many commercial vehicles).
5. Registration, plates and parking tickets
- Five or more unpaid parking tickets (i): a vehicle (other than a rental) that has five or more parking citations the owner has not responded to within the deadlines in the law may be impounded until the owner proves identity, gives a California address, and shows the penalties have been cleared.
- No plates or registration shown (j): an illegally parked car with no license plates or other evidence of registration.
- Registration expired more than six months (o): a vehicle found or operated on a street, public land or certain off-street lots with registration that expired more than six months earlier. The officer must first check DMV records and may not tow under this rule if current registration is on file. Fake, altered or borrowed plates and stickers are also covered.
Because these rules come up often, we wrote a separate guide on being towed for expired registration or unpaid tickets in California.
6. Situations involving the driver
- Stolen vehicles (c): a car found on a street or public land after it was reported stolen.
- Injury or illness (g): the person in charge of the car is too injured or ill to arrange its removal.
- Arrest (h): the driver is arrested and taken into custody, or is served certain license suspension or revocation orders.
- License violations (p): the driver is cited for driving without a valid license or with a suspended or revoked license and the car is not impounded under a different section. Release then requires the owner’s valid license and current registration, or a court order.
Some license-related cases fall under a separate rule that allows a 30-day impound. We explain that in our guide to California’s 30-day impound.
What CVC 22651 does not do
It is just as useful to know the limits of this section:
- It does not set tow or storage prices. Rates for police-directed tows in a given city are generally set by agreements between the agency and its contracted tow operators. Our storage fee guide and tow bill checker explain what to look for on a bill.
- It does not cover private property tows, which follow CVC 22658.
- It does not remove your right to a hearing. A separate section, CVC 22852, gives registered and legal owners the opportunity for a post-storage hearing on most public tows.
What to do if your car was towed under CVC 22651
- Confirm it was towed, not stolen. Contact the local police non-emergency line or use the official lookup tools listed in our impound lot finder. Reporting a towed car as stolen wastes time and can complicate things.
- Find out the reason and the subdivision. The agency’s storage notice should state the authority and purpose for removal. Write down the exact section cited.
- Check what the release requires. Some subdivisions add conditions: for example, cars towed for expired registration are released after proof of current registration and a valid driver’s license, and cars held for unpaid tickets require proof that the penalties have been cleared.
- Move quickly. Storage is usually charged per calendar day. Under California Civil Code 3068.1, if the car is released within 24 hours of being placed in storage, only one day of storage may be charged. After that, each day or part of a day can be charged.
- Bring the right papers. Our impound lot guide has a checklist of what to bring.
- Request a hearing if you disagree. You generally have 10 days from the date on the storage notice to request a post-storage hearing. See our post-storage hearing guide for how it works.
Common questions
Can I be towed for one parking ticket?
One ticket alone does not trigger subdivision (i), which requires five or more unanswered notices. However, the act of parking illegally may itself allow a tow under another subdivision, for example in a posted tow-away zone, in front of a hydrant, or blocking a driveway.
Do I have to be warned before a tow?
It depends on the subdivision. Several require posted signs, and some street work and special event rules require signs at least 24 hours before removal. Safety-related tows, such as a car blocking traffic, do not require advance notice. Parking tickets must carry a warning that repeated violations may lead to impound.
Is a freeway tow covered by this law?
Yes. Subdivisions (b) and (f) cover hazardous vehicles and cars left on freeway shoulders. The CHP handles most freeway tows in the LA area.
Key takeaways
- CVC 22651 is the main source of authority for public tows in California, including Los Angeles.
- Every public tow should come with a stated reason and authority. Ask for it in writing.
- Release conditions depend on the reason for the tow, so check them before you go to the yard.
- Storage adds up daily, so act fast and request a hearing within 10 days if you think the tow was wrong.
This guide was prepared by the TowCars team from the official text of the California Vehicle Code and Civil Code as published on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. It is general information and not legal advice. If a large amount of money is at stake, talk to a licensed California attorney.
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