Polk County Vehicle Impound Guide

Getting Your Car Back After DUI Arrest in Polk County

A Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrest in Polk County, Georgia, immediately triggers a series of legal and logistical challenges, one of the most urgent being the retrieval of your impounded vehicle. Law enforcement agencies in the county, including the Polk County Police Department, Polk County Sheriff's Office, and city police departments (Cedartown, Rockmart, and Aragon), are authorized to impound vehicles involved in DUI incidents to ensure public safety and secure evidence. Understanding the specific local procedures for vehicle release is critical to minimize accumulating fees and avoid further complications.

Your Vehicle After a DUI Arrest

Following a DUI arrest, your vehicle will be towed from the scene and impounded. This occurs regardless of whether you are released on bond or remain in custody. The immediate priority after ensuring your legal representation and release from jail should be to locate and retrieve your vehicle. Delaying this process will result in increasing storage fees, which can quickly become substantial.

Where Is Your Car?

Unlike larger metropolitan areas with centralized impound lots, Polk County operates a decentralized system. The Polk County Sheriff's Office maintains a Wrecker Operator Rotation List, distributing towing assignments among private companies based on geographic location at the time of arrest. This means your vehicle could be at one of several private facilities.

Prominent rotation operators that may service the area include:

• Lee Brown Towing LLC
• Address: 352 S Furnace St, Cedartown, GA 30125
• Phone: (770) 748-0624
• Note: Lee Brown Towing LLC also serves as an authorized Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installer, offering a streamlined option if you choose the IID permit waiver for your administrative license suspension.
• Ace Wrecker Service
• Address: 120 Holt Drive, Acworth, GA 30101
• Phone: (770) 974-9679
• Note: While located in a neighboring county, operators like Ace Wrecker Service may service border-county regions depending on highway proximity and inter-agency requests.

How to Find Your Vehicle

To determine the specific impound lot holding your vehicle, you or a family member must take the following steps:

1. Check Arrest Paperwork: The "Impounded Vehicle Inventory" sheet provided by the arresting agency (e.g., Polk County Police Department, Cedartown Police Department, or Georgia State Patrol Post) should list the name of the towing company used.
2. Contact the Arresting Agency: If the paperwork is unclear or unavailable, contact the non-emergency information desk of the specific arresting agency that made the DUI arrest. They will be able to trace the rotation log and inform you which tow company was dispatched.
3. Reference Your Booking Number: Having your booking number or case number readily available will expedite the process when speaking with law enforcement or impound lot personnel.

What You Need to Retrieve Your Vehicle

To release an impounded vehicle, specific documentation and conditions must be met.

Required Documents

The registered owner of the vehicle, or an authorized third party, must present:

• Valid Government-Issued Photo ID: This is typically a valid driver's license.
• Vehicle Registration or Title: Proof of ownership is mandatory.
• Proof of Insurance: Current liability insurance for the vehicle.
• Payment for Fees: Cash, money order, certified check, or credit/debit card (confirm accepted methods with the specific impound lot).

If You Don't Have a Valid License

It is a common scenario for individuals arrested for DUI to have their physical driver's license confiscated by the arresting officer, especially upon refusal or failure of a chemical test. A vehicle cannot be driven off an impound lot by an unlicensed driver.

If you do not have a valid license, or your license was confiscated:

• Authorized Third Party: Arrange for a friend or family member who possesses a valid driver's license to retrieve the vehicle on your behalf.
• Authorization Letter: The registered owner must provide a notarized "Hold Harmless and Release" form or a written authorization letter, accompanied by a copy of the owner's government-issued photo ID, to the impound lot. This authorizes the third party to pick up the vehicle.
• Rental Vehicle Loophole: If the impounded vehicle is a rental, towing companies are strictly prohibited from releasing it to the driver. You must notify the rental company immediately, which will dispatch a corporate representative to secure the vehicle's release.

Costs & Fees in Polk County

Vehicle impoundment incurs significant costs that accrue rapidly. The Georgia Department of Public Safety Maximum Rate Tariff No. 5 regulates non-consensual towing fees statewide.

• Tow Fee: The base maximum fee for the removal of a standard passenger vehicle is $175.00.
• Daily Storage Rate: After the initial 24-hour impoundment window, a daily storage rate of $15.00 per day applies. Storage fees do not accrue during the first 24 hours.
• Gate Fees: Private impound lots operate during standard business hours. Retrieving a vehicle after 5:00 PM on weekdays or on weekends generally incurs an additional "Gate Fee," which can be $50 or more.

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

Payment

Before visiting the impound lot, call in advance to confirm their accepted payment methods. Most facilities accept cash, money orders, certified checks, and major credit/debit cards. Tow operators are legally required to accept major credit cards