The impound lot is a 24-hour operation located at 830 Barge Channel Road. That part of the impound lot which is reserved for storage of towed vehicles, including the garage and the auction area (except during auction activity), is a security area. [Redacted].
In addition to vehicles towed by Saint Paul Police, the impound provides storage facilities for vehicles towed from the State Fair and Metro Transit Police Department. These services shall be codified within a memorandum of understanding to be agreed upon by all parties.
A record will be kept of all entries into the security area by persons other than impound lot personnel and the nature of their business there. Entry will be permitted for properly authorized reasons only.
Only vehicles noted as towed in the Tow Exchange software, except vehicles from the public safety garage (PSG) or headquarters, department vehicles on department business, tow trucks, and various maintenance or service vehicles having legitimate business or reasons will be allowed into the security area of the lot. [Redacted].
Vehicles of employees on duty may be parked in the area designated. A separate area may be designated for visitor parking while they are attending to pertinent matters at the impound lot.
When the contract tower arrives at the impound lot, clerk on duty will meet the driver and check the vehicle into the impound lot inventory as received and take administrative photos of the vehicle. The clerk will physically inspect the vehicle against the comments made by the towing officer for accuracy and indicate any discrepancies in the Tow Manager software.
The computer entry is saved in the impound lot network and is edited accordingly when a final disposition is made with the vehicle. Upon release, a computer-generated invoice is signed by the vehicle owner or agent.
When a vehicle is to be released to the properly identified owner or agent, this party will inspect the vehicle and note any comments on the invoice. The owner will pay the fees, sign the invoice and at this time the vehicle will be removed from the lot.
Vehicles on hold will be cleared for release by the concerned investigative unit before it can be removed from the lot. Upon clearance the office assistant at the impound lot will send a certified letter to the listed owner/s and lien holder and this action will be noted in the Tow Manager software for future reference.
No registered vehicle owner or other person is allowed to remove anything from a vehicle or to perform any mechanical work until a vehicle is properly paid for and released, unless authorized by the impound lot manager or unit commander. Any property of value found in any vehicle will be removed and submitted into the Evidence Manager by the officer on scene and turned into the property room unit for proper disposition. (Vehicles on hold/or subject to the execution of a search warrant are an exception to the above). Any questions about a hold vehicle will be directed to the concerned unit head or designee. The lot manager will prepare lists of vehicles to be scrapped or auctioned. These lists will be verified by computer for clearances.
The lot manager will prepare a daily list of all vehicles which have actually left the lot through scrapping, auction or release to the owners using the Tow Exchange software.
Impound lot personnel will, before any vehicle is auctioned or scrapped, remove the license plates, search the glove box, trunk and under the seats for anything of value. If anything is found, it will be disposed of by either the impound lot or property room unit staff in accordance with department policy and state law.
Expendable items of minimal value, such as jumper cables, small hand tools, snow brushes, etc., which are removed from the vehicles to be scrapped or sold at auction may be converted to department use if a need exists in lieu of other disposition by the property room unit.
All property removed from vehicles must be released to the owners or their agent upon payment of all applicable fees unless that property is held for evidence or otherwise is not legitimately returnable. Property taken from a vehicle that has been forfeited is not recoverable by statue. The concerned investigative unit will be responsible for disposition of such property. Returnable property which remains unclaimed may be disposed of by either the impound lot or property room unit in accordance with department policy and state law.
In the event the owner of an impounded vehicle or an agent makes a complaint regarding damage to the vehicle or alleges theft of property from said vehicle at the time of recovering same from the impound lot, the impound lot personnel will note same in the Tow Exchange software. Also, a detailed, comprehensive supplemental report under the original complaint number shall be written. If sworn personnel are not present at the impound lot, a squad should be summoned to witness the complaint and make the above supplemental reports.
This supplemental report will be made out as soon as complaint is received.
Revised June 7, 2016