help needed: fellow ducati owner needs to sell stuff to get bike out of impound

[desmoquattro]

I'm really interested in the content of this thread, but am having a hard time separating the Tin Foil Hat Club's bent on things from bare facts.  If what I'm hearing is truly the case, then that's pretty disturbing.

Does anyone know where the policy for this situation is laid out so that I can read it for myself?   

Who are you calling the Tin Foil Hat club?

here's the CHP's website response:
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/impound.html

Now what the CHP site doesn't detail is the fact that the county controls the impound cost, where the car goes, etc. Many counties have given contracts to private tow operators with tow yards to operate as the official impound lots. These counties levy a daily storage fee, which is tacked on to the fines and can keep you from getting your vehicle back. San Mateo county (where Johnny's bike is) charges $75 a day for storage. San Francisco charges $120 a day. This money (either all or a good portion of it) goes to the tow yard operator.

[desmoquattro]

And some more info:
http://www.ehow.com/about_6162811_california-impound-law.html

Who Benefits From This Law
# A lot of people reap the benefits of this law. According to the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley, the California Impound Law generated $40 million in 2009. Many cities split this revenue with towing companies. Also, drivers on the road benefit from having fewer unlicensed and uninsured drivers in nearby lanes.

How Many Vehicles Are Reclaimed
# A surprising amount of vehicles go unclaimed. The vice president of the California Tow Truck Association asserted that at least two-thirds of the impounded vehicles are never claimed. The Inland Congregations United for Change believes that is because many drivers are poor and unable to raise enough money to pay the fines.

[mostrobelle]

Thanks, d00d.  Not that I don't believe ya, but I like to look at stuff for myself. 

[desmoquattro]

Thanks, d00d.  Not that I don't believe ya, but I like to look at stuff for myself. 

See, that's the root of all your problems in life. You should blindly obey. It's just easier.