Chicago DUI attorney comments on losing your car

This Chicago DUI attorney wants to remind you of yet another consequence of a DUI arrest.  The police can, and usually will, impound your vehicle.  The starting fees to get your vehicle back, once you or the owner has shown proof of valid insurance, is approximately $700.  That fee does not include daily storage fees if you are unable to retrieve the vehicle.

625ILCS 4-203:

  (e) Whenever a peace officer reasonably believes that a person under arrest for a violation of Section 11-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance is likely, upon release, to commit a subsequent violation of Section 11-501, or a similar provision of a local ordinance, the arresting officer shall have the vehicle which the person was operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a period of not more than 12 hours after the time of arrest. However, such vehicle may be released by the arresting law enforcement agency prior to the end of the impoundment period if:

        (1) the vehicle was not owned by the person under

     arrest, and the lawful owner requesting such release possesses a valid operator's license, proof of ownership, and would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner, or who would otherwise, by operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this Code; or

        (2) the vehicle is owned by the person under arrest,

     and the person under arrest gives permission to another person to operate such vehicle, provided however, that the other person possesses a valid operator's license and would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner or who would otherwise, by operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this Code.

    (e-5) Whenever a registered owner of a vehicle is taken into custody for operating the vehicle in violation of Section 11-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or Section 6-303 of this Code, a law enforcement officer may have the vehicle immediately impounded for a period not less than:

        (1) 24 hours for a second violation of Section 11-501

     of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these offenses; or

        (2) 48 hours for a third violation of Section 11-501

     of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these offenses.

    The vehicle may be released sooner if the vehicle is owned by the person under arrest and the person under arrest gives permission to another person to operate the vehicle and that other person possesses a valid operator's license and would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner or would otherwise, by operating the motor vehicle, be in violation of this Code.

 Unfortunately, in these economic times, many people are unable to retrieve their vehicles after a DUI arrest.