Traffic laws help to keep roads in Ohio safe. Following them can help stop accidents and ensure that you get safely from destination to destination. If you break a traffic law, then an officer may issue you a ticket. Traffic violations run from minor infractions to serious crimes. If you break certain laws, the penalty may include the impoundment of your vehicle.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles explains that impoundment is part of the sentence a court may impose for certain traffic violations. If the court finds you guilty of a second OVI, driving under suspension or wrongful entrustment, it could impound your vehicle and any vehicle registered with the state in your name.
The court determines how long to impound your vehicle. When the sentence ends, you may get your vehicle back, but you first must pay the reinstatement fee. Once you pay the fee, you will get a Notice of Immobilization Compliance form. Take this form to the impound lot to retrieve your vehicle. Do note that you may also have to pay impound fees to get your vehicle.
If you fail to pay the reinstatement fee, you cannot get your vehicle back because the impound lot requires proof you completed your sentence. You also will be unable to title any other vehicle in your name until you pay the fee.
Impoundment is completely up to the court. It often depends on your driving history as to whether the court will impose this sentence and for how long your vehicle will be under impound. This information is for education and is not legal advice.