There are three reasons to justify keeping a vehicle on "Hold" . They are:
- Evidence - We can hold a vehicle for evidence processing, photographing, DNA retrieval, pending search warrant execution, etc. Once those functions are completed, we can only hold the vehicle if it is to be introduced into evidence through the courts.
- Forfeiture - If a vehicle is to be forfeited/seized, the appropriate documentation is to be completed and sent to the narcotics/vice unit. The narcotics/vice unit will forward a copy of the forfeiture documentation to the impound lot. Upon receipt of a disposition to forfeiture proceedings the hold will be lifted from the vehicle.
- Other lawful reasons - This would be for rare and unusual circumstances that are not covered in the above descriptions.
All vehicles requiring further processing for evidence shall be towed to the Saint Paul Police Impound Lot escorted by a police officer to maintain the chain of evidence. Officers will document this action on the appropriate report.
When a vehicle is towed to the impound lot to be held for an investigative unit of the police department, for forfeiture or evidence, or other reason, the line "Vehicle Held/For Whom" in the Tow Manager will be checked and the unit the vehicle is to be held for clearly stated. Not checking either box will mean the vehicle will not be held and may be released at any time.
If the vehicle is to be held for forfeiture, check the "Yes" box in "Vehicle Held for Forfeiture". If after the initial receipt of the vehicle at the impound lot a decision is made to place a vehicle on hold a supplemental report under the original complaint number must be prepared by the officer requesting the hold. A copy of this report must be delivered to the impound lot before the hold will be in effect. A phone call to the impound lot is insufficient to hold a vehicle. A faxed and/or email copy of the report will suffice, however, requesting officers should verify the faxed report and/or email is received at the impound lot.
When a decision is made to remove the hold on a vehicle, the investigator or his/her designee handling the case must prepare a supplemental report under the original complaint number authorizing the release of the vehicle. The report must be prepared by the authorizing officer or his/her designee and delivered to the impound lot. No vehicles will be released from hold without this report. The name, address, and phone number of the person to whom the vehicle is to be released should be reflected in the supplemental report. A phone call to the impound lot is insufficient to release the hold on a vehicle. A faxed copy of the report or email will suffice, however, authorizing officers should verify the faxed report and/or email is received at the impound lot.
If a vehicle is on police hold while forfeiture proceeds, the officer check the "Yes" box on the tow report for "Vehicle Held for Forfeiture". If the vehicle has been already received by the impound lot and a decision is made to place a hold on it for forfeiture, a supplemental report under the original case number must be made a faxed and/or email copy of the report will be sent to the impound lot. The requesting officers should verify the faxed report and/or email is received at the impound lot. See General Order 439.17 for further details.
When a vehicle comes into the impound lot with a hold for an investigative unit (not for forfeiture/seizure), the impound lot will honor the hold for five, consecutive, business days, excluding weekends/holidays. Hold will begin after midnight on the day of arrival. After those five, consecutive, business days, the hold will be removed and the vehicle will be subject for release.
In order to keep a vehicle beyond the five days, the impound lot needs a supplement report from the investigative unit prior to the expiration of the five days indicating who wants the vehicle held as well as the specific legal reason for retaining the vehicle. The reason for holding the vehicle needs to be precise and not as generic as: "Vehicle involved in an on-going investigation" or "Vehicle used in fraud offense" . Unclear or generic justifications for an extended hold will be brought to the attention of the commander in charge of the impound lot for follow-up.
If the vehicle is to be held for the county attorney's office, the impound lot will need the name and contact number of the attorney making the decision as well as the legal reason to retain. Again, please note this applies to only vehicles on hold for criminal purposes and not for vehicles held for forfeiture/seizure.
Upon removing the hold the vehicle cannot go back on hold for the same offense unless new information is available. The hold cannot be reissued if the only reason is that the report was not prepared within the needed time frame.
Refer to the Training Bulletin: Hold on Vehicles, published on September 17, 2012.
See General Order 445.16: Storage of Seized Vehicles and Vehicles Held for Forfeiture, for the disposition of forfeiture vehicles.
Processing Vehicles for Evidence:
The following procedures will be in effect at the impound lot for officers assigned to photograph and process towed vehicles for latent fingerprints.
Contact the unit responsible for the case involving the towed vehicle. The unit investigators can advise as to what is to be done with the vehicle. During other than the normal workday shift, if there is no unit investigator available, contact the watch commander for instructions.
The following routine processes will be expected of officers trained for photo/fingerprinting vehicles that will be held at the impound lot:
- Stolen and/or stripped vehicles.
- All suspect vehicles could be processed immediately (barring adverse effects caused by inclement weather conditions).
- All vehicles involved in robberies or burglaries can be processed in the event only photos and/or fingerprints are requested.
- All paper products should be turned in to the property room or when closed to a property room locker. This type of evidence will upon request from the case investigator via the Forensic Services Examination Request Form be chemically processed for fingerprints by laboratory personnel.
- Do not search the vehicle for trace evidence such as: blood, semen, hairs, or fibers. This will be done by laboratory personnel upon request from the case investigator via the Forensic Services Examination Request Form.
Revised June 7, 2016