Hi Seal Beach!
Every so often, someone calls us and says, “My car is gone. The city towed it.” Sometimes that is true. A lot of the time, it is not. In many cases, what happened was a private party impound, often shortened to PPI, which is a tow that starts with a private property owner or manager, not the city.
A PPI is when a vehicle is towed from private property at the request of the property owner or their agent. Think apartment complexes, shopping centers, business lots, HOA-controlled areas, and other privately owned parking areas. The key point is simple. The tow is based on private property rules, not a city enforcement decision. That means the city is not directing the tow, the Police Department is not authorizing the tow, and we do not control the fees or the release process.
So why does the Police Department show up in the middle of it? Because California law requires towing companies to notify local law enforcement after a private property tow is removed and in transit. That notification helps us confirm a tow when you call, but it does not make it a city tow.
In a private party impound, our role is limited. We typically cannot order a tow yard to release your vehicle. We cannot negotiate or waive private towing and storage fees. And we cannot decide who was right in a dispute between a property owner, a tow company, and a vehicle owner. Those issues are generally handled between the vehicle owner, the property owner or manager, and the towing company.
California law sets rules for private property tows, including required paperwork and limits on how a tow is handled in certain situations. If you believe a private tow was improper, that is usually a civil dispute between you, the property owner or manager, and the towing company. The Police Department might be able to determine where the vehicle was taken, but we do not determine fault, order releases, or resolve fee disputes in a private party impound.
A city or police-directed tow is different. That typically happens when an authorized public employee directs the removal of a vehicle under state law, such as when a vehicle is creating a hazard, blocking traffic, or is illegally parked in specific ways. When a public agency directs the storage of a vehicle, California law provides a post-storage hearing process to challenge the validity of that tow if requested on time. That hearing process does not apply to private property tows under the private party impound rules.
If you cannot find your car, start with the practical steps. Call the Seal Beach Police Department non-emergency line at (562) 594-7232. We can often confirm whether a tow company has reported a private property tow and where the vehicle was taken. If it was a private property tow, ask the tow yard for the paperwork tied to the removal. If you believe the tow was improper, document everything you can, including photos of the entrances, signs, stall markings, and where the vehicle was parked if possible.
Before you park, take five seconds to scan for lot signage and stall markings. That small habit can save you a long afternoon and a towing bill.
Keep your questions coming, Seal Beach! Email us at askacop@sealbeachca.gov today!
