Inventory of seized and impounded vehicles

The law provides a system to monitor and manage vehicles that remain in storage for long periods after being seized, impounded, or confiscated. Every six months, the Prefect conducts an inventory of vehicles that have been in storage for more than six months, in cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

Vehicles are identified by details such as type, model, license plate, or chassis number and included in an official list published on the Prefecture’s website. This allows owners to be informed and gives them a final opportunity to recover their vehicle.

After publication, the owner has 30 days to take back custody of the vehicle by paying all accumulated storage costs. This payment also clears any related debt owed to the State.

If the owner does not act within this period, the vehicle is considered abandoned. In cases of non-final confiscation, the vehicle becomes definitively confiscated. At that point, management is transferred to the State Property Agency, which may sell or destroy the vehicle, especially if it is heavily damaged.

The proceeds from any sale are held in a State account until the legal process is completed. If the confiscation becomes final, the State keeps the money; otherwise, it is returned to the owner.

This procedure ensures that vehicles are not left unused in storage for long periods and promotes efficient management.