Durham County Vehicle Impound Guide

Vehicle impound procedures in Durham County, North Carolina, following a DUI arrest can be a confusing and costly process. Understanding the steps involved and potential pitfalls can save you time and money.

The First 48 Hours After a Durham County DUI Arrest

Following a DUI arrest in Durham County, your vehicle is typically towed and impounded. The Durham Emergency Communications Center (DECC) dispatches a towing company from a rotating list, meaning the location of the impound lot can vary significantly, potentially being located far from the arrest site. This "rotation" system means you have little control over where your car is taken. The first 48 hours are critical for locating your vehicle and understanding the requirements for its release. Start by determining whether the Durham Police Department (DPD) or the Durham County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) authorized the tow, as they maintain separate property protocols. Contact the DPD Front Desk Officer at (919) 560-4427 for DPD tows or the DCSO Property & Evidence Division at (919) 560-7368 for DCSO tows. Failing to contact the correct agency can lead to delays and frustration.

What Happens After Arrest / Documents Required

| Action | Details WITH THE ARREST. | Document | Requirement WITH THE ARREST.

Durham County Vehicle Impound: What You Need to Know

If you've been arrested for DUI in Durham County, North Carolina, one of the first logistical challenges you'll face is dealing with your impounded vehicle. Here's a breakdown of the process:

Primary Impound Facility

While there isn't one "primary" impound facility in Durham County, your vehicle will be taken to the next towing company on the Durham Police Department's (DPD) or Durham County Sheriff's Office's (DCSO) rotation list. Contacting the appropriate agency is crucial to locating your vehicle.

Cost Breakdown

The cost to retrieve your vehicle from impound in Durham County can quickly add up. Here's a typical breakdown:

• Tow Fee: $125 (This is the maximum charge set by the Durham City Council for police-initiated non-consensual tows).
• Daily Storage Fee: $45 per day.
• Weekend Multiplier: If you're arrested on a Friday night and can't post bail until Monday, you'll accrue storage fees for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, significantly increasing the total cost.

For example, a Friday night arrest with a Monday morning release would result in a minimum cost of $260 ($125 tow + $45/day x 3 days = $260).

Required Documents for Release

To retrieve your vehicle, you'll typically need the following:

• Valid photo ID
• Current vehicle registration

Contacting the Tow Company

Once you've determined which company has your vehicle, contact them to confirm their hours of operation and accepted payment methods.

• DPD Tows: Inquiries go to the DPD Front Desk Officer at (919) 560-4427.
• DCSO Tows: Inquiries go to the Property & Evidence Division at (919) 560-7368.

Many tow yards in Durham operate on a Cash Only basis for impound releases.

Special Circumstances

• Weekend/Holiday Procedures: Storage fees continue to accrue on weekends and holidays. Plan accordingly to minimize costs.
• Third-Party Pickup: If you're still incarcerated, you'll need to coordinate a proxy to retrieve your vehicle. Many lots require a notarized letter of authorization or your physical presence. Since accessing a notary from jail can be difficult, the vehicle may sit, accruing daily storage fees, until you're released.
• All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Vehicles: Owners of AWD vehicles may experience longer travel times and increased Uber/taxi costs for retrieval due to the "Rollback Roulette" dispatch logic, which favors larger fleet operators often located in more remote industrial zones (e.g., Cheek Road or Harvest Road).
• DWI Seizure: If your vehicle was seized under N.C.G.S. 20-28.3 (e.g., driving while license revoked for a prior impaired driving offense), you won't be able to retrieve it directly from the tow company. You'll need to contact the DPD Towing Inspector (Officer Wilkinson, Ext. 29173) or the Clerk of Court to obtain a release order. This can take 24-48 hours, during which storage fees continue to accumulate.
• The "Catch-22": If you're released from the Durham County Detention Center at 3:00 AM and your wallet, cell phone, and credit cards are locked inside the impounded vehicle, you may face a "Catch-22" situation. You can't pay the tow fee to get the car, and you can't get to the car to get the wallet to pay the fee. This often forces family members to intervene. However, if you're the only registered owner, the lot may still refuse release to the family member without your presence.

Navigating the vehicle impound process in Durham County after a DUI arrest can be complex. Understanding these procedures and potential challenges is crucial for a smoother and less costly experience.