Detroit, MI asked in Criminal Law and Traffic Tickets for Michigan

Q: My car was stolen in Michigan and I reported it the same day.

I was notified on a Friday by the 12th precinct that my car was recovered on Thursday (the day before) and now was in their custody at a tow yard. I had to pay almost $300 to get it back, but shouldn’t I have been notified the Thursday they found it so I could have the option to tow it to my home on my own since it wasn’t stripped or anything?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Mark Bredow
Mark Bredow
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Bloomfield Hills, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: There is no statute which requires the police to notify you that quickly or that requires them to leave the vehicle where it is found, notify you, and wait for you to tow it. It could be in a dangerous place, on someone else's property, or pose a risk to traffic. They tow the vehicle to secure it from further loss, or to preserve it for evidence. Giving you notice within a day is a very good response time. You may wish to present the towing charge to your insurance carrier for payment. They should be happy to do so, since they don't have to pay to replace the whole car.

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