PURPOSE OF HEARING. As a vehicle owner or other person entitled to possession of an impounded vehicle, you have the right to a hearing if you believe your vehicle should not have been impounded. The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether there was probable cause to impound the vehicle, that is, whether the impounding officer was legally authorized to remove your vehicle.

WHEN and WHERE HEARING WILL BE HELD. The hearing will be held within forty-eight (48) hours of the request, excluding weekends and holidays. The hearing will consist of a meeting with a hearing officer at the City of Irvine Police Department or by telephone if you desire. You may present any witnesses or any other evidence you believe will show that your vehicle should not have been impounded. You must establish that you are the owner of the vehicle or that you have some other right to possession of it.

ATTENDANCE BY IMPOUNDING OFFICER. At the time you request a hearing, you may also request that the police officer who directed the impound appear and answer your questions at the hearing.

CONDUCT OF THE HEARING. If the Hearing Officer determines that your vehicle should not have been impounded, it will be released to you without charge, or you will be repaid after processing by mail for the charges you paid to the Official Police Garage. If the Hearing Officer determines that the vehicle was properly impounded, you must pay the impound and storage charges to the Official Police Garage (if you have not done so already), or the garage will have a lien placed on the vehicle.

HOW TO REQUEST A HEARING. Request must be done within ten (10) business days of the date of mailing of the “Notice of Stored Vehicle”. Failure to request a hearing within ten (10) days of the notice, or failure to attend a scheduled hearing will end your right to a hearing.

• (1) Complete a "Request for Vehicle Impound Hearing Form"

• (2) Telephone the Irvine Police Front Desk at (949) 724-7004 during normal business hours.

• (3) Write or appear in person at the Irvine Police Department, One Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606-5208.

NOTE: Your right to a hearing within forty-eight (48) hours does not affect your right to seek an immediate release of your vehicle, without waiting for a hearing, by obtaining a written release from the Irvine Police Department and paying the impound and storage charges of the Official Police Garage. In this event, the Hearing Officer will determine whether you are entitled to a refund of the charges.

RESULTS OF HEARING: A written reply from the hearing officer may be provided upon request. The time within which to file a judicial challenge of the Hearing Officer’s decision is governed by section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.