Towed/Impounded Vehicles

How many parking tickets do I have to get before I can be towed?

A vehicle can be towed if one or more tickets remain unpaid. Boulder Revised Code Section 2-6-7 authorizes the court clerk to order the impoundment of vehicles that have been placed on the scofflaw ("pick-up") list if the registered owner fails to pay or respond to a letter notifying the owner that the vehicle has unpaid parking tickets.

What should I do if my vehicle has been towed?

If your vehicle was impounded due to outstanding parking tickets, you should call the Boulder Police Department at 303-441-3333 to locate your vehicle. To obtain a release of your vehicle, you must pay the balance owed at the Boulder Municipal Court Violations Bureau on the first floor of the Justice Center, 1777 6th St. (6th and Canyon). The Boulder Municipal Court is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except that the court is closed from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. the second Friday of every month). Phone: 303-441-4212. You can also make payment at the Boulder Police Department, located at 1805 33rd Street. The Police Department is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. After hours you can call dispatch at 303-441-3333 for a city impound, or 303-441-4444 if your car was located in the county. Payments may be made in cash only.

Why was I towed if I don't have any unpaid parking tickets?

There are two possible reasons:

(1) Occasionally, a vehicle is towed because it is blocking a private driveway and the citizen has asked the police department to remove the vehicle.

(2) During certain time periods, construction or city street sweeping projects will result in the towing of a vehicle.

Signs posted prior to the initiation of construction or street sweeping projects authorize towing of vehicles parked in locations designated as temporary "No Parking" zones. If your vehicle is not located where you originally parked, you should first check nearby to see if the vehicle was simply moved to another location. If you are still unable to locate your vehicle, contact the Boulder Police Department.

Why do I have to pay a scofflaw fee and an impound fee?

The court is authorized to impose a "scofflaw" fee to offset its administrative costs in placing a vehicle on the "scofflaw" or "pick-up" list. These costs include the cost of obtaining current address information for the registered owner and generating and mailing the required scofflaw notice to the registered owner. The impound fee is designed to offset the time spent by officers and court staff associated with the towing of your vehicle.

Why do I have to to pay an impound fee to both the court and the tow company?

The city incurs expenses associated with the impound and towing of your vehicle, including officer and staff time. Boulder Revised Code Section 2-6-7 authorizes the court to pass along these costs to the owner of the vehicle. The towing company also incurs expenses in towing the vehicle to the tow yard, and is authorized by its contract with the city to pass that cost along to the registered owner of the vehicle.

I cannot pay the entire balance of my overdue fines. Can I get a payment plan?

The court does not accept payment plans for parking fines. To obtain the release of a towed vehicle, you must pay the entire balance due in full before the court will issue a release. If your vehicle has not been towed but you are on the "pick-up" list you may pay less than the full balance owed, but you will remain on the "pick-up" list and can be towed until the balance has been paid in full.

Why was a boot placed on my vehicle?

 If your vehicle was booted it is because you have unpaid parking tickets.  During normal business days and hours, you can call the court at 303-441-4212 to pay your tickets and arrange to have the boot removed.  At other times, you can call the police at 303-441-3333 to pay your tickets and arrange to have the boot removed.  If payment is not made by the end of the day that the boot is placed on a vehicle, the vehicle will be towed.

It is also possible that the boot was placed on your vehicle by a private company. This may occur when a vehicle is parked on private property without a legal right to do so, or when it has exceeded the number of hours that parking on that property is permitted. Usually, signs are posted on the property indicating the number to call when a vehicle has been immobilized by a "boot."

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Last Updated on Friday, 29 June 2012 10:38