ULPT, How to get my car impounded?
Posted by jeharris56@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 29 comments
How do I get my car impounded? The car is legally mine. Is there any way to get my car impounded? I'm happy to pay fees to get my car out of the impound lot, but I don't want to do anything illegal that will show up on my criminal record.
Ex-girlfriend has the car, and refuses to give me the keys. I figure if I can get the vehicle impounded, it's a simple matter for me to have the car towed from the impound lot to a locksmith.
Skeggy-@reddit
Is she on the title?
No? Report it stolen.
jeharris56@reddit (OP)
No can do. She's not on the title, but I can't report the car as stolen if I willingly handed over the keys. I contacted the cops. They refuse to get involved. That's why I had the idea to get the vehicle impounded.
Kastar_Troy@reddit
That sounds like bullshit, someone is withholding your property.
Contact other cops..
Skeggy-@reddit
He’s right. Giving keys is giving permission.
OP doesnt need to be honest about it though.
RandomSecurityGuard@reddit
Permission be recinded at any time. The car is his property - it's okay until he decides it isn't. No need to lie.
mistdaemon@reddit
Nope, not when it isn't returned. Guess what happens if you don't return a rental vehicle? Loaning a vehicle isn't the same as giving the person the vehicle.
Skeggy-@reddit
Correct, it turns it into a civil dispute. Not law enforcement’s problem.
That’s why you unethically lie about giving permission.
mistdaemon@reddit
Incorrect as it is also criminal.
Skeggy-@reddit
Did you not read the OP’s comment about how the police wouldn’t help? He told them he gave her the keys.
This is a civil dispute unless op says it was actually taken out of his possession without consent. That’s how theft works.
mistdaemon@reddit
Do you know what conversion is? Do you know that often the police refuse to do what they should because they are lazy and can get away with it?
Amazing since under your view rental car companies could never have people who fail to return their vehicles for theft, yet reality says otherwise.
Often the police have to be pushed to do their jobs.
East-Psychology7186@reddit
It’s stolen the moment you want it back and she refuses to return it. Someone who borrowed a car can still steal said car.
mistdaemon@reddit
Look of the crime of conversion, which is a lot like theft, but slightly different.
You need to push the police. Consider a rental vehicle, the person is given the keys, but if they fail to return the vehicle it is considered theft. The police are lazy and don't want to deal with. Conversion is also a crime.
Do you have a copy of the keys? Is it a newer vehicle which has the ability to track it?
Do you know where she lives? If so, you could have a tow truck tow it from there yourself, no impound required. You could also sue her and have her served, but collecting is another story.
Skeggy-@reddit
Unethically lie about giving her the key…
Annual_Government_80@reddit
If you have the title, call a locksmith prove ownership and have the locksmith make keys you “lost” and tell key it do it while she is sleeping
jeharris56@reddit (OP)
I doubt the locksmith will be willing to do a job in the dark, in the middle of the night, in a sketchy neighborhood. And if she comes running out of the house and starts hitting the locksmith, that's the last time he does business with me. It's a big risk.
PonyThug@reddit
They 100% will. And every single lock smith I’ve worked with carried a gun all the time. Don’t worry about it. You’re the only one scared of the idea.
MacintoshEddie@reddit
They literaly have overnight tow trucks and lock smiths, they just charge more.
If she assaults them, they call the cops. She gets arrested for assault and you get your car back.
Most cities have dozens of each.
mistdaemon@reddit
Have it towed, a private tow. If she starting hitting the tow truck driver, she will go to jail. If you know where the vehicle is, you can call the police to "keep the peace".
Annual_Government_80@reddit
People locked themselves out of their cars all the time that’s why they have emergency services and they’re in every neighborhood.
HRzNightmare@reddit
Cancel your registration for the vehicle (but NOT the insurance if the car is worth anything.) she'll either get pulled over for having a bad registration, or you can rat her out when she's parked somewhere long term if she's caught somewhere public they'll definitely tow it.
WyoPeeps@reddit
Except OP has already established that cops are lazy and likely won't want to go after it
MacintoshEddie@reddit
Call a tow truck. Identify yourself as the owner, show your license and registration, pay the bill, and they'll happily tow your car.
MeetTheBeat360@reddit
Personal repo.
reijasunshine@reddit
Do you have roadside assistance through your car insurance? Tell them your car keys were stolen and you need it towed to the dealership. Give them the address where it is, then go to the dealership and have it rekeyed.
I had to do exactly this when my car keys WERE stolen. It was quick and easy. The tow was free, and the new key cost me like $200.
arclight415@reddit
Just call a private tow company and get it towed to a locksmith across town. Have new keys made. It's your car, stealing it isn't a crime.
Delicious_Peace_2526@reddit
Have you tried asking the dealer to cut you a new key?
izzyrab@reddit
Why cant you get it towed to an auto shop and then have someone make the keys at the shop. Maybe sabotage the car with something simple that won’t cost a lot but makes the car unable to drive.
theFooMart@reddit
So she drive while drunk or high? Call it in, she gets arrested and the car gets impounded. Only problem is that where you live, there may be a minimum amount of time (like a month) that the car stays impounded if the driver is DUI.
jeharris56@reddit (OP)
I can't guarantee that she's high when I make the phone call. I don't want to get in trouble for phoning in a phony report.