(a) A peace officer may remove a vehicle, within the territorial limits in which the officer may act, if the vehicle is involved in the theft or movement of stolen inedible kitchen grease. If a peace officer removes a vehicle pursuant to this subdivision, the officer may, after citing or arresting the responsible person, seize the vehicle, which may be impounded for up to 15 days.

(b) The registered and legal owner of a vehicle removed and seized pursuant to subdivision (a) or their agents shall be provided the opportunity for a storage hearing to determine the validity of the storage in accordance with Section 22852.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 22650) of Division 11 or any other law, an impounding agency shall release a motor vehicle to the registered owner or his or her agent prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period described in subdivision (a) under any of the following circumstances:

(A) If the vehicle is a stolen vehicle and reported as stolen in accordance with then existing state and local law.

(B) If the legal owner or registered owner of the vehicle is a rental car agency.

(C) If, prior to the conclusion of the impoundment period, a citation or notice is dismissed under Section 40500, criminal charges are not filed by the district attorney because of a lack of evidence, or the charges are otherwise dismissed by the court.

(2) A vehicle shall be released pursuant to this subdivision only if the registered owner or his or her agent presents a currently valid driver’s license to operate the vehicle and proof of current vehicle registration, or if ordered by a court.

(d) A vehicle seized and removed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be released to the legal owner of the vehicle, or the legal owner’s agent, on or before the 15th day of impoundment if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The legal owner is a motor vehicle dealer, bank, credit union, acceptance corporation, or other licensed financial institution legally operating in this state, or is another person, not the registered owner, holding a security interest in the vehicle.

(2) The legal owner or the legal owner’s agent pays all towing and storage fees related to the impoundment of the vehicle. No lien sale processing fees shall be charged to a legal owner who redeems the vehicle on or before the seventh day of impoundment.

(3) The legal owner or the legal owner’s agent presents foreclosure documents or an affidavit of repossession for the vehicle.

(e) (1) The registered owner or his or her agent is responsible for all towing and storage charges related to the impoundment, and any administrative charges authorized under Section 22850.5.

(2) If the vehicle is a rental vehicle, the rental car agency may require the person to whom the vehicle was rented to pay all towing and storage charges related to the impoundment and any administrative charges authorized under Section 22850.5 incurred by the rental car agency in connection with obtaining possession of the vehicle.

(3) The owner is not liable for any towing and storage charges related to the impoundment if acquittal or dismissal occurs.

(4) The vehicle shall not be sold prior to the defendant’s conviction.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 532. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)