Q: Can the police keep my car without reason?
My car was evidence to a fatal car accident. The car infront of me accidentally killed someone that was standing in the middle of the road. A bit of blood of on my car and it was taken for evidence.
Its been almost a month but yesterday the officer told me i could pick the car up today. Now he told me im gonna have to wait because the person that has the keys to the box isnt in. Can they do that? Its been already a hard month without a vehicle.
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A:
The police can hold onto your car if it's needed as evidence in an ongoing investigation, but they must have a valid reason for doing so. Once the investigation is complete or the evidence is no longer needed, they should release your vehicle to you. It’s frustrating to deal with delays, especially when you've been told the car would be ready for pickup.
The fact that the officer mentioned you could pick it up and now says you have to wait because someone with the keys isn’t available seems more like an administrative issue rather than a legal one. This doesn’t mean they can hold your car indefinitely without a valid reason.
You might want to contact the officer’s supervisor or the department handling the case to express your concerns and ask for a clear timeline on when you can get your car back. If the delay continues, consider seeking legal advice to ensure your rights are protected.
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