If you are arrested for impaired driving in Ottawa, your car is immediately towed and impounded for 7 days under Ontario’s Vehicle Impoundment Program. You cannot get it back early, and you are entirely responsible for the towing and storage fees, which usually exceed $800 CAD.
Watching your car get hooked up to a tow truck and driven away by the Ottawa Police Service is a sinking and helpless feeling. If you are pulled over and fail a roadside breathalyzer, the police do not simply hand you a ticket and let you call a cab. Your vehicle is seized on the spot, leaving many drivers confused about what happens next and how they will get their property back.
Understanding what happens to your car if you are arrested for impaired driving in Ottawa requires looking at Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. 📋 The province operates a strict Vehicle Impoundment Program designed to immediately remove suspected impaired drivers from the road. The financial burden and logistical headache of this impoundment fall entirely on the registered owner of the vehicle.
Step-by-Step Process in Ottawa
Whether you were arrested on the busy Queensway (Highway 417), in Orleans, or in a quiet residential neighbourhood in Nepean, the impoundment process is mandatory and uniform. The police have no discretion to let you park the car safely and walk away.
Step 1: The Roadside Seizure
The moment you register a “FAIL” on an Approved Screening Device or refuse to provide a sample, the arresting officer will seize your keys. 🔑 The police will call a contracted towing company to the scene. An inventory of your vehicle is usually taken, and the car is loaded onto a flatbed while you are placed in the back of the police cruiser.
Step 2: The Tow to a Commercial Impound Lot
Your vehicle is not taken to the police station; it is taken to a private, secure commercial impound lot in the Ottawa area. The towing company acts on behalf of the police to store the vehicle for exactly 7 days. You will be provided with a Notice of Impoundment detailing where your car is located.
Step 3: Retrieving Personal Belongings
While the car must remain impounded for the full 7 days, you are allowed to retrieve essential personal property from inside the vehicle. 💼 You must contact the impound lot during their regular business hours to arrange a visit. You can take items like house keys, wallets, or child car seats, but you cannot tamper with the vehicle itself.
Step 4: Reclaiming the Vehicle After 7 Days
At the end of the 7-day period, the vehicle is eligible for release. However, because your driver’s licence is suspended for 90 days, you cannot legally drive it off the lot yourself. You must bring a fully licensed driver with you, present valid insurance and ownership, and pay all accumulated towing and storage fees to the impound facility.
How Much Does it Cost in Ottawa?
The Vehicle Impoundment Program is entirely user-funded, meaning the driver bears all the costs. Towing and storage companies set their own rates, but they are generally regulated by municipal bylaws. Expect a significant expense:
- Towing Fees: The initial hook-up and tow from the arrest scene to the impound lot usually costs between $250 and $400 CAD, depending on the distance travelled.
- Daily Storage Fees: The impound lot will charge a daily storage rate, typically ranging from $60 to $100 CAD per day. For a 7-day impoundment, this adds up to roughly $420 to $700 CAD.
- Total Impound Costs: You should budget between $800 and $1,200 CAD just to get your car back.
- Unclaimed Vehicle Fees: If you leave the car at the lot past the 7 days, daily storage fees continue to accrue until the lot eventual places a lien on the vehicle and sells it at auction.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The impoundment timeline is rigidly enforced by the province of Ontario. 🕐 There is almost no legal mechanism to secure an early release, even if the seizure causes severe hardship for your family.
| Impoundment Phase | Mandatory Duration |
|---|---|
| Initial Vehicle Seizure | Immediate upon arrest at the roadside |
| Minimum Storage Period | Exactly 7 full days (168 hours) |
| Licence Suspension (ADLS) | 90 days (meaning you cannot drive it home) |
| Vehicle Lien Processing | Starts if left unclaimed for several weeks |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can my spouse pick up the car before the 7 days are over?
No. Even if the vehicle is jointly owned or registered exclusively in your spouse’s name, the mandatory 7-day impoundment still applies. The vehicle cannot be released early to anyone.
What happens if I was driving a rental car or work truck?
The 7-day impoundment applies regardless of who owns the vehicle. If you were driving a rental car or your employer’s commercial truck, it will be impounded. The rental company or your boss will have to pay the fees and may sue you for the costs.
Will the police pay the tow bill if my criminal charges are dropped?
No. The 7-day impoundment is a provincial administrative penalty, completely separate from your criminal case. Even if a lawyer successfully gets your impaired driving charges withdrawn later, you will not be refunded the impound fees.
Can I dispute the impoundment?
Vehicle owners can technically appeal to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) if the car was stolen at the time of the offence. However, these appeals are extremely rare and almost never apply if you voluntarily lent the car to an impaired driver.
Do I need a lawyer to get my car out of the impound lot?
No, you do not need a lawyer to physically retrieve your vehicle after the 7 days. You just need to pay the towing company. However, you absolutely need a criminal defence lawyer to fight the impaired driving charges in court.
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