Access to Impounded Vehicles
In a bonding year, it is difficult to increase program budgets, but there is room to negotiate policy changes that don’t require dollars. One positive step that can be taken is to develop a policy that would allow homeless and low-income people access to their cars when they have been impounded.
Under existing law, people have no right to retrieve personal belongings, not even medicine or legal documents, from their car if it is towed. Tow lot operators can withhold all belongings until the car owner pays all of the expensive towing and storage fees.
Low-income and homeless car owners around the state are especially affected because they often store their personal items in their cars. Items not accessible can include family photos and keepsakes, winter clothing, schoolbooks and homework and even wheelchairs.
Outcome
Language that is part of a larger Omnibus Transportation Policy bill (HF 3800) would allow individuals with low-incomes access to the contents of their towed and impounded vehicles. The bill was presented to Governor Pawlenty on May 16th. It was signed prior to Memorial Day Weekend.
This bill would be particularly helpful to individuals experiencing homelessness. When homeless individuals are using their cars as a place to live and sleep, they’re also using them for storage. When vehicles are towed and impounded, the owner loses access to anything that’s in the vehicle- personal belongings, clothing, identification, school books, work tools, and whatever else may be in the car.
With this new legislation, an individual enrolled in Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), MinnesotaCare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or another state or federal aid program, must be granted access to the contents of their vehicle, and will be able to remove their personal items from their impounded vehicle.
