Vehicle Code section 22651 enumerates numerous circumstances justifying vehicle removal, most tied to law enforcement authority on public roads (expired registration, blocking traffic, evidence of a crime, and more), distinct from the private-property-specific procedures in section 22658. Some subdivisions intersect with private property, such as vehicles left on private property without consent for extended periods.
For Sacramento properties abutting public streets, security staff sometimes need to distinguish between a vehicle parked illegally on the public street (a law-enforcement/parking-enforcement matter under this section) and a vehicle parked in violation of lot rules on private property (governed by section 22658). Misidentifying which authority applies can delay resolution or lead to an improper private tow request.
Security officers generally do not have independent authority to invoke this statute; their role is limited to reporting public-right-of-way violations to the appropriate municipal authority while handling private-lot violations through the property's own towing procedure. Clear post orders help officers route each type of vehicle issue correctly.
This is a lengthy, frequently amended statute with many subdivisions; verify current text for the specific subdivision relevant to any given situation.
Related entries
Official sources
- [1]Cal. Vehicle Code § 22651California Legislative Information
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General industry and regulatory usage — not legal advice, and not an endorsement by BSIS, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or any law-enforcement agency. Statutes, regulations, and local ordinances change; verify current text at the official government source or with your attorney.