§1735.1.  Motor vehicle holds; storage requirements; notification; payment of storage costs

A.  Any law enforcement agency may place a hold on a vehicle stored at a licensed storage facility for up to fourteen calendar days.

B.  A law enforcement agency may request extension of a hold placed pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.  In order to extend a hold, the law enforcement agency shall notify the storage facility in writing prior to expiration of the initial hold.  If the law enforcement agency does not request extension of such hold, the storage facility shall release the vehicle to its owner upon payment by such owner of all towing and storage charges to the storage facility, provided that the storage facility has complied with the provisions of R.S. 32:1719 and 1720.

C.  When a law enforcement agency extends its hold pursuant to Subsection B of this Section, the law enforcement agency may remove the vehicle to a designated impound lot.

D.  When a law enforcement agency extends its hold pursuant to Subsection B of this Section and elects to continue storage of the motor vehicle at the storage facility, the law enforcement agency shall be responsible for payment of the storage facility's charges during the requested hold extension period; however, the owner of the motor vehicle shall be responsible for payment of the storage facility's towing and storage charges during the initial law enforcement hold period.

E.  Upon judicial determination of no probable cause, a law enforcement agency shall release its hold on the impounded vehicle.

F.  Upon judicial determination of guilt of an offense pursuant to Titles 14, 32, or 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, for which law enforcement placed a hold on his vehicle, the owner of an impounded vehicle shall be liable for payment of all towing and storage costs.

Acts 2010, No. 949, §1.