If your vehicle has been seized or towed by the Woodstock Police Service, it will be taken to a secure impound facility or, in some cases, to police headquarters for forensic processing or further investigation.
Why Your Vehicle May Be Towed or Seized
Motor vehicles may be towed and/or seized for several reasons, including the following:
Municipal By-law Offences – Towed, but not seized.
Example: A vehicle obstructing traffic or parked in violation of a by-law may be towed but not seized.
Provincial Offences – Towed and may be seized.
Example: Driving prohibitions, licence suspensions, or street racing offences can result in a vehicle being both towed and seized for a specified period.
Criminal Code Offences – Towed and may be seized.
Example: Impaired driving offences result in a mandatory vehicle impoundment of seven days.
Collision Investigations – Towed and may be seized.
Example: A serious or fatal collision may require vehicles to be towed and secured for forensic examination or investigation.
Important: Your vehicle may be seized or towed if you or anyone else driving your vehicle is caught operating it while suspended or prohibited from driving.
Retrieving a Seized Vehicle
If your vehicle was seized and you are the registered owner, police will make every effort to contact you.
Once notified, you will need to attend the Woodstock Police Service and present valid government-issued identification to verify ownership.
Upon verification, you will be issued an official vehicle release form. This document must be presented at the impound yard in order to retrieve your vehicle.
A vehicle will not be released from the impound lot without this authorized release form.
When claiming your vehicle, the registered owner is responsible for all towing and storage fees charged by the tow company.
The location of the impound facility will be provided when you pick up your vehicle release form.