Q: Can a cop tow my vehicle off my property for expired registration if they witnessed it operating on the road way.
A:
Under California law, a police officer may tow a vehicle from private property if it was previously observed operating on a public roadway with expired registration. This action is typically justified if the registration has been expired for a significant amount of time, as outlined in California Vehicle Code Section 22651(o).
It's important to note that the authority to tow under these circumstances doesn't require the vehicle to be on a public road at the time of towing. If the officer witnessed the vehicle being used on a public road with expired registration, they can tow it from private property later.
However, the specifics of each situation can vary. The officer's decision to tow might depend on factors like the length of the registration's expiration and the vehicle's location. It's advisable to keep vehicle registration current to avoid such situations.
A: Yes, in most situations a cop can "tow [your] vehicle off [your] property for expired registration if they witnessed it operating on the road way."
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