Reports Of Stolen Vehicles - - CA Vehicle

Section § 10500

If a police officer gets reliable information that a registered vehicle has been stolen, taken, driven illegally, or a leased/rented vehicle hasn't been returned within five days after the owner’s request, they must report it to the Department of Justice Stolen Vehicle System immediately. The same applies if license plates are reported lost or stolen. When such a vehicle or plates are found, the officer must inform both the Department and the original reporting law enforcement agency, who then must notify the reporting person about the location and condition of the recovered vehicle or plates. This notification has to be done over the phone if possible, or by mail within 24 hours if phone contact is not available. Special rules apply if the recovered vehicle has incurred storage or parking fees, as per another section. This law takes effect on January 1, 2024.

(a) A peace officer, upon receiving a report based on reliable information that a vehicle registered under this code has been stolen, taken, or driven in violation of Section 10851, or that a leased or rented vehicle has not been returned within five days after its owner has made written demand for its return, by certified or registered mail, following the expiration of the lease or rental agreement, or that license plates for a vehicle have been lost or stolen, shall, immediately after receiving that information, report the information to the Department of Justice Stolen Vehicle System. An officer, upon receiving information of the recovery of a vehicle described in this subdivision, or of the recovery of plates which have been previously reported as lost or stolen, shall immediately report the fact of the recovery to the Department of Justice Stolen Vehicle System. At the same time, the recovering officer shall advise the Department of Justice Stolen Vehicle System and the original reporting law enforcement agency of the location and condition of the vehicle or license plates recovered. The original reporting law enforcement agency, upon receipt of the information from the recovering officer, shall immediately attempt to notify the reporting party by telephone, if the telephone number of the reporting party is available or readily accessible, of the location and condition of the recovered vehicle. If the reporting party’s telephone number is unknown, or notification attempts were unsuccessful, the original reporting law enforcement agency shall notify the reporting party by placing, in the mail, a notice providing the location and condition of the recovered vehicle. This written notice shall be mailed within 24 hours of the original reporting law enforcement agency’s receipt of the information of the recovery of the vehicle, excluding holidays and weekends.

(b) If the recovered vehicle is subject to parking or storage charges, Section 10652.5 applies.

stolen vehicle report Department of Justice Stolen Vehicle System recovered vehicle notification leased vehicle non-return license plates lost vehicle recovery notification police officer reporting duty written demand for vehicle return vehicle storage charges operative date January 2024 phone notification written notice reliable information certified or registered mail reporting party contact

(Repealed (in Sec. 1) and added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 609, Sec. 2. (AB 391) Effective January 1, 2020. Section operative January 1, 2024, by its own provisions.)

Section § 10501

This law makes it illegal for anyone to file a false police report claiming their vehicle was stolen with the aim of deceiving the authorities. If someone has already been convicted of this offense before and they do it again, they can face jail time. The penalty could be a sentence in state prison for 16 months, two years, or three years, or up to one year in a county jail.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to make or file a false or fraudulent report of theft of a vehicle required to be registered under this code with any law enforcement agency with intent to deceive.

(b) If a person has been previously convicted of a violation of subdivision (a), he or she is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months, or two or three years, or in a county jail for not to exceed one year.

false vehicle theft report fraudulent auto theft report intent to deceive law enforcement unlawful vehicle theft claim repeated offense penalty vehicle registration fraud false police report consequences imprisonment for false report penalties for repeated fraud criminal consequences for false reports jail time for fraudulent claims auto fraud legal consequences reporting false vehicle theft Penal Code Section 1170

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 601. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Section § 10502

If your vehicle is stolen or embezzled, you can tell the California Highway Patrol (CHP). However, if it's a specific kind of embezzlement (not like the one in Section 10855), you need to get an arrest warrant for the suspect before reporting to the CHP.

After you've reported it, if you get your vehicle back, you have to inform the CHP about its recovery.

(a) The owner or legal owner of a vehicle registered under this code which has been stolen or embezzled may notify the Department of the California Highway Patrol of the theft or embezzlement, but in the event of an embezzlement other than an embezzlement as specified in Section 10855, may make the report only after having procured the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of the person charged with the embezzlement.

(b) Every owner or legal owner who has given any notice under subdivision (a) shall notify the Department of the California Highway Patrol of a recovery of the vehicle.

vehicle theft notification embezzlement of vehicle arrest warrant for embezzlement California Highway Patrol report recovery of stolen vehicle vehicle owner responsibilities notification of embezzlement reporting vehicle recovery legal owner vehicle theft specific embezzlement procedures

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 290, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Section § 10503

This law says that when the Department of Justice finds out that a vehicle has been stolen or illegally taken and driven, or if such a vehicle has been recovered, they must inform the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The Department of Justice upon receiving notice under this chapter that a vehicle has been stolen, or taken or driven in violation of Section 10851, or that a vehicle reported stolen, or taken or driven in violation of Section 10851 has been recovered, shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of the reported theft, taking or driving, or recovery.

vehicle theft notice vehicle recovery notification stolen vehicle reporting Department of Motor Vehicles vehicle recovery illegally driven cars Department of Justice auto theft vehicle recovery procedure Section 10851 violation stolen car protocol vehicle reporting requirements DOJ notification car theft recovery stolen auto procedures

(Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 98.)

Section § 10504

When the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) gets a report about a stolen vehicle or a vehicle taken illegally, it updates its electronic records to flag these vehicles. This helps identify them when processing applications for new registration or ownership documents. If a vehicle is flagged, the DMV stops the paperwork and contacts the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate further. New documents won't be issued until the DOJ clears the vehicle. Once flagged, the notice stays in the DMV system for at least a year, or longer if necessary, until the DOJ provides an update.

The department upon receiving a report of a stolen vehicle, or of a vehicle taken or driven in violation of Section 10851, shall place an appropriate notice in the electronic file system which will identify such vehicles during the processing of new certificates of registration, ownership, or registration and ownership. When such vehicles are thus identified, processing shall be discontinued and the Department of Justice shall be notified. New certificates shall not be issued until cleared by the Department of Justice. Notices shall remain in the Department of Motor Vehicles system until a Department of Justice deletion is received.

A report of a stolen vehicle, or of a vehicle taken or driven in violation of Section 10851, is effective for a period of not less than one year from the date first reported or longer as the department may determine.

stolen vehicle report vehicle identification notice DMV electronic file system processing new registration ownership documents Department of Justice notification vehicle clearance flagged vehicle Section 10851 vehicle taken illegally DMV system notice report effectiveness duration DOJ vehicle clearance process registration suspension illegal vehicle use

(Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 98.)

Section § 10505

If a vehicle that was reported stolen or embezzled is registered to someone else, the department must promptly inform the police agency that originally reported it.

Upon the transfer of registration of a vehicle reported as stolen or embezzled, the department shall immediately notify the reporting agency of such fact.

vehicle registration transfer stolen vehicle embezzled vehicle notification to police reporting agency transfer of ownership vehicle registration department immediate notification law enforcement alert vehicle status update stolen vehicle notice embezzled vehicle report registration alert vehicle ownership change title transfer notification

(Enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3.)