Every day, several vehicles are seized by police for a number of reasons, which may include:
- Impaired driving or a 12-hour licence suspension
- A Highway Traffic Act offence
- The occupant was arrested and cannot care for the vehicle
- Impeding traffic
- The vehicle may be evidence in a crime
When a vehicle is seized, police ensure it is safe and secure and ordinarily tow it to the police impound yard for the area in which it was seized. Police then make an effort to contact the registered owner — who may not be the person who had recently been driving it. Only the registered owner is authorized to pick up the vehicle.
Once notified, the registered owner must attend the police station and, on providing sufficient identification, will be issued a vehicle release form. This form must be taken to the tow yard to claim the vehicle — a vehicle will not be released without a properly authorized release form.
When the vehicle is claimed, the registered owner is responsible for all towing and storage charges. The location of the Belleville Police Service pound facility is provided to the registered owner when they pick up the release form.