Broomfield County Vehicle Impound Guide

Getting Your Car Back After DUI Arrest in Broomfield County

After a DUI arrest in Broomfield County, Colorado, one of the most immediate concerns is retrieving your vehicle. Your car is typically impounded following a DUI arrest for several reasons: it removes a potential hazard from the road, preserves it as evidence, and ensures compliance with state and local regulations. Understanding the process and acting quickly is crucial to minimize expenses and avoid further complications.

Where Is Your Car?

In Broomfield County, the Broomfield Police Department primarily uses one towing company: Marv’s Quality Towing.

Your vehicle is likely located at their Broomfield location:

• Marv’s Quality Towing
• Address: 7257 W 116th Place, Broomfield, CO 80020
• Phone: N/A

It is critical to confirm the correct location before heading out. Defendants frequently navigate to the Boulder headquarters (Valmont Rd) because it is the primary address listed online, only to find their vehicle is actually detained at the Broomfield satellite lot (116th Place). This error can consume 2-3 hours of transit time, often pushing the defendant past the 6:00 PM closing.

How to Find Your Vehicle

Here are a few ways to confirm your vehicle's location:

• Check your arrest paperwork: The arresting officer should have provided you with paperwork that includes the name and contact information of the towing company used.
• Call the Broomfield County Sheriff's Office: While they won't release your vehicle, they can confirm which lot your car was towed to.
• Reference your booking number: Have your booking number ready when you call to help them locate your vehicle information quickly.

What You Need to Retrieve Your Vehicle

Marv’s Quality Towing requires the simultaneous presentation of three documents—the "Trifecta"—before releasing your vehicle. The absence of any single document results in a denial of release.

Required Documents

• Valid Government Photo ID: This can be a Driver's License, Passport, or State ID. However, in DUI cases involving a refusal or BAC ≥ 0.08, the arresting officer physically confiscates the driver’s license (issuing a paper "Yellow Sheet"). The towing company requires a photo ID, but the paper permit does not have a photo. The defendant must present a Passport or have a temporary State ID issued. If they have no other photo ID, they cannot retrieve their own vehicle.
• Vehicle registration or title: You will need to provide either the current vehicle registration or the clear title to prove ownership. If the registration is inside the locked glovebox of the impounded vehicle, you must request a "property retrieval" visit. This is often allowed but depends on yard staffing. If the registration is expired, release is denied until the taxes are paid at the DMV—a catch-22 if you cannot get to the DMV without the car.
• Current Proof of Insurance: The insurance policy must be valid on the date of release. Electronic proof (on a phone) is generally accepted, but if the phone is dead or in the car, hard copies are required. Faxing from the insurance agent is a common workaround, but relies on the tow company's office staff processing the fax in real-time.
• Payment for fees: Be prepared to pay all impound and storage fees.

If You Don't Have a Valid License

Because your license is effectively revoked/suspended/provisional upon arrest, Marv’s Quality Towing mandates that a licensed driver accompany the owner to drive the vehicle off the lot. The owner cannot drive it out themselves even with the "Yellow Sheet" permit in some interpretations of private lot liability policies.

If you don't have a valid license, you have two options:

• Have a licensed friend or family member retrieve it: Ask a licensed friend or family member to accompany you to the impound lot.
• They need: Their valid driver's license, a signed authorization letter from you (if you are not present), the vehicle title or registration, and proof of insurance.

Costs & Fees in Broomfield County

The financial exposure for a typical DUI impound is significant. Based on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) maximum rate schedules for 2024-2025, you can expect the following costs:

• Consensual Tow Base: ~$225.00+ (Law Enforcement Tows (LET) often have contracted rates, but base hook fees are substantial).
• Storage (GVWR < 10k): $47.12 / 24 hrs (Accrues daily. Weekend = 3 days automatically).
• Storage (GVWR > 10k): $58.13 / 24 hrs (For larger trucks/SUVs).
• After Hours Release: $103.70 (If gate opening is requested outside M-F 8-6).
• Statutory Notification: $150.00 (Applied if vehicle remains >3-5 days).
• Property Release: $100.00 / hour (Fee to access vehicle for personal items (unless "protected items" like meds/keys)).

A Friday night arrest with Monday morning release typically costs between $450 and $600 in immediate cash liability.

IMPORTANT: Storage fees accumulate every day. Retrieve your vehicle as quickly as possible to minimize these costs.

Payment

Call Marv’s Quality Towing in advance to confirm their accepted payment methods.

Timeline

Act Immediately

Storage fees start accruing the moment your vehicle is towed. Every day costs more money.

After 30 Days

Most states allow the lot to initiate a lien sale if the vehicle is unclaimed. Do not let it reach this point.

If You Can't Afford the Fees

Retrieving your vehicle can be financially challenging. Here are a few options if you're struggling to afford the fees:

• Contact a family member or friend: Ask for assistance to help cover the costs.
• Ask the impound lot if a payment plan is available: Some impound lots may offer payment plans.
• Consult with your attorney: In some cases, your attorney may be able to negotiate or challenge the fees.

Also, be aware that daily ATM withdrawal limits (typically $500–$1,000) are often exceeded by the total cost of a multi-day impound tow. You may need to physically visit a bank branch to withdraw sufficient funds.

After Retrieval

• Inspect the vehicle immediately before leaving the lot: Carefully examine your vehicle for any new damage that may have occurred while it was impounded.
• Document any damage with photos: Take detailed photos of any damage you find.
• Report any damage to the lot manager in writing before you drive away: Notify the impound lot manager of any damage in writing before leaving the premises. This creates a record of your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What happens if the Broomfield Police Department places a "hold" on my vehicle? If the DUI involved a felony (vehicular assault, eluding) or remains under active investigation, BPD will place a "Hold" on the vehicle. The tow company is legally prohibited from releasing the vehicle or allowing access to it until the specific investigating detective contacts them to lift the hold. You cannot expedite this by calling the tow yard. You must query BPD Records or the specific detective. Holds can persist for weeks if evidence processing is backlogged.
• Why do I need exact change to bond out of the Broomfield Detention Center? Detention center staff generally cannot provide change for cash bonds. If the total liability is $1,040 and the payor arrives with $1,100, the transaction may be stalled, or the excess $60 will be forcibly deposited into the inmate's commissary account rather than returned to the payor.
• What if I was arrested on a Friday night in Broomfield? A Friday arrest creates a "perfect storm": Your vehicle is towed to Marv's, which closes until Monday. Storage fees accrue for 3 days. Booking takes hours. Family attempts to bond out Saturday morning but lacks exact cash. They must leave, find a bank/ATM (dealing with withdrawal limits), and return. Processing stalls during 6:00 AM shift change. By the time you stabilize, it is Wednesday/Thursday. You must email the
  DMV hearing request immediately or risk the 7-day deadline expiring on Friday.