In Massachusetts, after the arrest of a driver, a motor vehicle may be impounded for one of four legitimate purposes. These four circumstances include:
- Protection of the vehicle and contents from theft or vandalism;
- Safety of the public from dangerous items in the vehicle;
- Public safety concerns;
- Where the vehicle is parked on private property without permission of the owner.
These scenarios were rearticulated in the case of Commonwealth v. Oliveira, 474 Mass. 10 (2016). Where the true purpose of the seizure is to search the vehicle, the seizure of the vehicle may not be justified as a precursor to an inventory search. As a result, if you are in a situation where your vehicle has been impounded and searched, contact the Worcester MA Attorneys who can help you. Conact the Law Office of Shane W. Surrette today at 774-479-3005 or at [email protected].