NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

D. Unclaimed Vehicles
Any vehicle that remains unclaimed at an approved towing company’s impound lot will
result in the filing of an Unclaimed Motor Vehicle Affidavit by the towing company. The
towing company that is permitted to file on behalf of the Police Department will conduct a
search of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to ascertain the owner or any lien holder of
the vehicle in storage and send a certified letter notifying the owner or lien holder the
vehicle will be declared a nuisance and disposed of if not claimed within ten days of the
date of the mailing.
If the vehicle is not claimed, the towing company will file for the title by completing the
Unclaimed Motor Vehicle Affidavit. The Police Department supervisor who oversees the
Towing Contracts will be responsible for approving and signing each affidavit. The
supervisor shall also conduct onsite inspections of the vehicles processed and audit the
towing company’s procedures each quarter to ensure compliance with state law. The
towing company permitted to file Unclaimed Motor Vehicle Affidavits may charge an
administrative fee (not to exceed $25.00) when filing an Unclaimed Motor Vehicle
Affidavit for other towing companies that are in contract with the New Albany Police
Department.
E. Recovered Stolen Vehicles
If a stolen vehicle is recovered, the reporting agency shall be contacted to determine
whether the vehicle should be held for evidentiary purposes. If the vehicle is to be
processed by a law enforcement agency, arrangements will be made to have the vehicle
impounded by the reporting agency. If the stolen vehicle is not being held for evidentiary
purposes, the owner shall be contacted by the Dispatch Center. The owner will be
instructed to come to the scene to claim the vehicle. If the owner of the vehicle is
unknown or cannot be contacted/located, the vehicle will be impounded with all
associated costs being the responsibility of the owner. If practical, the vehicle may be
processed for evidentiary purposes at the scene where it was recovered.
If a vehicle has evidentiary value or if there are extenuating circumstances, a supervisor
may authorize the towing of a vehicle to Police Headquarters or to the Service
Department for the purpose of completing evidence processing or an inventory. Upon
completion of this processing, the original towing company will be contacted by the
Dispatch Center to arrange for the vehicle to be transported to the tow company’s facility.
If a vehicle is found to be of evidentiary value, an officer will remain with/follow the vehicle
while it is being towed to a new location for processing.
F. Disabled Vehicles
If the vehicle is disabled due to a traffic crash, the Dispatch Center will contact the next
available towing company from the towing list to remove the vehicle from the roadway. If
the owner/operator requests a specific towing company, the Dispatch Center will attempt
to honor this request. However, if the owner/operator’s requested towing company
cannot respond within 30 minutes, the Dispatch Center will contact a contracted towing
company for the tow. An officer or supervisor may deny an owner’s/operator’s request for
a private tow company if the disabled vehicle is creating a traffic hazard and an
immediate response is needed. A Vehicle Impound Form (PD-08-179) need not be
completed on a vehicle towed out of a traffic crash unless the owner/operator is not
present due to his/her incapacitation (i.e. - squad transport) or having been arrested. All
costs incurred for towing vehicles from traffic crashes are the responsibility of the owner.
G. Impound Procedures
. When a vehicle is impounded at the direction of an officer, he/she will notify the
Dispatch Center. The dispatcher will utilize the tow log and call the next available
towing company. The officer will complete a Vehicle Impound Form (PD-08-179)
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