Vehicle immobilization: illegal dumping violation penalties

Local code enforcement and law enforcement can now use vehicle boots to enforce unpaid illegal-dumping penalties. Owners have a review process to challenge erroneous immobilizations.

What the law does ​

• Authorizes peace officers and salaried local code-enforcement employees to immobilize a vehicle on public roads or public land within their jurisdiction.
• Applies when the registered owner has five or more delinquent standard illegal-dumping notices, two or more delinquent commercial-quantity dumping notices, or specified unresolved failures to pay or appear in court.
• Requires the owner or lawful possessor to provide identification, a California address, and proof that penalties and bail are paid or that an active payment plan is in place before release.
• Requires an administrative review within two business days when an owner or lawful possessor claims the immobilization was in error.
• Requires immediate, no-cost removal of the device if the agency finds the immobilization was improper.
• Bars unauthorized people from immobilizing vehicles.

Who it affects ​

• Registered vehicle owners with delinquent illegal-dumping violations or unresolved court-related nonpayment or nonappearance notices.
• People lawfully entitled to possess an immobilized vehicle.
• Local peace officers and salaried code-enforcement employees.