Sec. 252d.

(1) A police agency or a governmental agency designated by the police agency may provide for the immediate removal of a vehicle from public or private property to a place of safekeeping at the expense of the last-titled owner of the vehicle in any of the following circumstances:

(a) If the vehicle is in such a condition that the continued operation of the vehicle upon the highway would constitute an immediate hazard to the public.

(b) If the vehicle is parked or standing upon the highway in such a manner as to create an immediate public hazard or an obstruction of traffic.

(c) If a vehicle is parked in a posted tow away zone.

(d) If there is reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle or any part of the vehicle is stolen.

(e) If the vehicle must be seized to preserve evidence of a crime, or if there is reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle was used in the commission of a crime.

(f) If removal is necessary in the interest of public safety because of fire, flood, storm, snow, natural or man-made disaster, or other emergency.

(g) If the vehicle is hampering the use of private property by the owner or person in charge of that property or is parked in a manner that impedes the movement of another vehicle.

(h) If the vehicle is stopped, standing, or parked in a space designated as parking for persons with disabilities and is not permitted by law to be stopped, standing, or parked in a space designated as parking for persons with disabilities.

(i) If the vehicle is located in a clearly identified access aisle or access lane immediately adjacent to a space designated as parking for persons with disabilities.

(j) If the vehicle is interfering with the use of a ramp or a curb-cut by persons with disabilities.

(k) If the vehicle has been involved in a traffic crash and cannot be safely operated from the scene of the crash.

(2) Unless the vehicle is ordered to be towed by a police agency or a governmental agency designated by a police agency under subsection (1)(a), (d), (e), or (k), if the owner or other person who is legally entitled to possess a vehicle to be towed or removed arrives at the location where the vehicle is located before the actual towing or removal of the vehicle, the vehicle shall be disconnected from the tow truck, and the owner or other person who is legally entitled to possess the vehicle may take possession of the vehicle and remove it without interference upon the payment of the reasonable service fee, for which a receipt shall be provided.

(3) A police agency that authorizes the removal of a vehicle under subsection (1) shall do all of the following:

(a) Check to determine if the vehicle has been reported stolen prior to authorizing the removal of the vehicle.

(b) Except for vehicles impounded under subsection (1)(d), (e), or (k), a police agency shall enter the vehicle into the law enforcement information network as abandoned not less than 7 days after authorizing the removal and follow the procedures set forth in section 252a.

(4) A vehicle impounded under subsection (1)(d), (e), or (k) must first be released by the police agency that authorized the removal prior to the towing agency or custodian releasing the vehicle to the vehicle owner.

(5) Not less than 20 days but not more than 30 days after a vehicle has been released under subsection (4), the towing agency or custodian shall notify the police agency to enter the vehicle as abandoned and the police agency shall follow the procedures set forth in section 252a if the impounded vehicle has not been redeemed.

History: Add. 1980, Act 249, Imd. Eff. July 28, 1980 ;-- Am. 1981, Act 104, Eff. Oct. 1, 1981 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 89, Eff. Sept. 19, 1989 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 68, Imd. Eff. May 4, 1998 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 76, Eff. Oct. 1, 2000 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 495, Eff. Oct. 1, 2005 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 539, Imd. Eff. Jan. 13, 2009 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 498, Eff. Mar. 28, 2013