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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57036</law_id><section_number>46.2-1216</section_number><catch_line>Removal or immobilization of motor vehicles, vehicles, and trailers against which there are outstanding parking violations; ordinances</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-1054</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Trespassing Vehicles, Parking, and Towing</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of any county, city, or town may provide by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> that any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> parked on the public <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">highways</span></span> or public grounds against which there are three or more unpaid or otherwise unsettled parking violation notices may be removed to a place within such county, city, or town or in an adjacent locality designated by the chief <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> for the temporary storage of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> may be immobilized in a manner that will prevent its removal or lawful operation except by authorized <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement personnel. The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of Fairfax County, and any town adjacent to such county, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Virginia Beach may also provide by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> that whenever any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> against which there are three or more outstanding unpaid or otherwise unsettled parking violation notices is found parked upon private property, including privately owned streets and roads, the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> may, by towing or otherwise, be removed or immobilized in the manner provided above; provided that no <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> may be removed or immobilized from property which is owned or occupied as a single family residence. Any such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall further provide that no such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> parked on private property may be removed or immobilized unless written authorization to enforce this section has been given by the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the property or an association of <span class="dictionary">owners</span> formed pursuant to the Virginia Condominium Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/55.1-1900/">55.1-1900</a> et seq.) or the Horizontal Property Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/55.1-2000/">55.1-2000</a> et seq.) and that the local <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> has provided written assurance to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the property that he will be held harmless from all loss, damage, or expense, including costs and attorney fees, that may be incurred as a result of the towing or otherwise of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> pursuant to this section. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall provide that the removal or immobilization of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> shall be by or under the direction of, an officer or employee of the police <span class="dictionary">department</span> or sheriff&#x2019;s office.
		Any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall provide that it shall be the duty of the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement personnel removing or immobilizing the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> or under whose direction such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> is removed or immobilized, to inform as soon as practicable the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the removed or immobilized <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> of the nature and circumstances of the prior unsettled parking violation notices for which the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> was removed or immobilized. In any case involving immobilization of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> pursuant to this section, there shall be placed on the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, in a conspicuous manner, a notice warning that the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> has been immobilized and that any attempt to move the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> might damage it.
		Any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall provide that the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of an immobilized <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or other person acting on his behalf, shall be allowed at least 24 hours from the time of immobilization to repossess or secure the release of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>. Failure to repossess or secure the release of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> within that time period may result in the removal of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> to a storage area for safekeeping under the direction of <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement personnel.
		Any <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall provide that the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the removed or immobilized <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> or other person acting on his behalf, shall be permitted to repossess or to secure the release of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> by payment of the outstanding parking violation notices for which the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> was removed or immobilized and by payment of all costs incidental to the immobilization, removal, and storage of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> and the efforts to locate the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>. Should the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> fail or refuse to pay such fines and costs, or should the identity or whereabouts of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> be unknown and unascertainable, the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may provide for the sale of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, vehicle, or <span class="dictionary">trailer</span> in accordance with the procedures set forth in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns" href="/46.2-1213/">46.2-1213</a>.</p></section></text><history>1977, c. 666, &#xA7; 46.1-3.02; 1978, c. 282; 1984, c. 64; 1988, c. 520; 1989, c. 727; 1990, c. 686; 2007, c. 813; 2010, c. 23; 2012, cc. 104, 150; 2019, c. 510.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
