A friend’s dirt bike was impounded for riding on the highway. He had only a bill of sale, no title, and the impound lot will not release the motorbike. How was the dirt bike recovered from the impound? Let’s discover how to get a dirt bike out of impound in this article.
It was wrong for him to put a dirt bike on the road, but it was to put air in the tire. Moreover, an officer told him he could ride on the streets by houses.
He was just a block over from the house when the motorbike was impounded. Since he had no title, he inquired about retrieving the dirt bike without a title but was advised to get a bonded title. A bonded title takes about 3 weeks, and the impound lot will charge $20 per day.
This research includes recommendations by Brent R. Hardy, a Criminal Defense Attorney in San Antonio, TX. His comment on getting a dirt bike out of impound aided the recovery of my friend’s dirt bike.
What Happens When My Dirt Bike is Seized?
When a dirt biker is caught, they receive a ticket up to a $75 court fine, depending on the state. The bike is not impounded unless it involves a serious crime or violates regulations.
In Connecticut, the cops will give the tow company written instructions not to return the dirt bike until a police officer verifies ownership paperwork. It may not be the case in your state, but it is typical in most states for the cops to inspect dirt bike ownership at the tow yard before release.
Depending on your state, district managers will be the point people for this sign-off. After you contact the police, the district manager will assign a cop to meet you at the towing company to verify your paperwork.
How to Get a Dirt Bike Out of Impound
I am not a licensed practitioner in your state. However, following Brent R. Hardy, an experienced criminal defense attorney licensed in Texas, below are the steps to get a dirt bike out of impound:
Contact the Attorney in Your State
First, contact a local attorney for advice regarding getting your dirt bike out of the impound. The attorney may suggest that you speak to the lot supervisor to explain your situation. Keep in mind that your dirt bike is not impounded by the police but rather under the lot’s supervision.
Prepare your paperwork
If you have no title to recover your dirt bike from impound, get a title replacement. Suppose you purchased the motorbike without a title, contact the previous owner to get you the title or get a bonded title.
If your dirt bike has no VIN, you have to replace the VIN because the police consider it a red flag that the motorcycle is stolen. However, a bill of sale and registrations can recover your bike if your VIN is intact.
Contact Your Local DMV
The next step is to contact your local DMV. You may visit your local DMV’s website for information regarding the recovery of an impounded dirt bike from the lot.
Explain your dilemma at the DMV. If you are polite and humble enough, the DMV might declare your case a contingency.
Get in Touch with the Impound Lot
Contact the impound lot. Of course, you must be polite and humble to earn sympathy. If the lot supervisor is reasonable, they might understand that you are trying your best to get back the dirt bike.
However, depending on your state, the lot may contact the police to verify the dirt bike ownership before release. If the law does not apply in your state, the lot will accept your appeal to release the dirt bike from impound with no title or registration. You must submit your bill of sale and lieu of a title.
Wheels Up, Guns Down
If the attempt to recover your dirt bike fails, consider the “wheels up, gun down” approach. Unfortunately, this approach can get you in a mess with the police. “Bikes up, guns down” is when you visit the impound lot with a group of bikers to retrieve your dirt bike illegally. This campaign occurs yearly, and you might be lucky to get yours too.
On one occasion, the Local 10 News reported many bikers visited an impound lot for Miami police. Those with $150 and proof of purchase redeemed their dirt bikes.
What happens if I don’t get my dirt bike out of impound?
If you do not get your dirt bike out of impound, a daily storage fee is added to the tow fee. The longer it takes to retrieve your dirt bike, the more it costs. Depending on your state, the average daily storage fee is about $30 for a dirt bike.
If you can’t recover your dirt bike, it will be auctioned with a court order, and the money goes to the tow/storage company. If your auctioned dirt bike does not cover your bill, the tow/storage company will go after you in court for the difference. The company may not force you for the difference, but you can be charged using other alternatives such as selling your debt to a collection agency.
In Connecticut, however, following OLR Research Report, the law does not explicitly permit municipalities to impound dirt bikes when fines are not paid. If you do not pay the fine associated with your dirt bike, the municipality may ask the Superior Court to enter a civil money judgment. After obtaining a money judgment, municipalities may then attach and seize your dirt bike for not paying the fine.
What is the cost of retrieving a dirt bike from an impound?
The cost of retrieving a dirt bike depends on your state. However, the average cost of getting a dirt bike out of impound depends, plus daily storage fees.
Will the impound lot release your dirt bike if you have no title?
Yes. The impound lot will release your dirt bike when you submit your registration.
Why Your Dirt is Bike Towed
When you drive your dirt bike on the street illegally, it will be towed, and you must prove to the cop and the tow lot that you own the bike. Below are reasons your dirt bike gets towed:
Riding on the Road
Your dirt bike will be towed if you drive on the highway and city street. In some neighborhoods, the cops may allow you to ride on streets near houses.
Theft Record
If your bike is a stolen dirt bike, law enforcement can trace it to you and impound it.
Trespassing
A dirt bike can be towed for trespassing.
No Registration
If your dirt bike is uninsured, unlicensed, etc., it can be towed. The police will mostly impound a dirt bike if they trace it to a crime.
Meanwhile, learn how to get a motorcycle license without a motorcycle and how to register your motorcycle with no license.
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