Vehicles: removal and impoundment.

Crime

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Macedo
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Vehicles: Removal and Impoundment

This law allows police to take away cars that were used in speeding over 100 miles per hour, even if the police did not see it happen themselves.

What This Bill Does

Allows a judge to give permission for police to take away a car if they have proof that someone was driving too fast (over 100 mph) on a road or in a parking lot.
Police can now use evidence from speed safety systems, like cameras, to prove the car was speeding even when the police did not see it happen.

Who It Names or Affects

People who drive cars and break traffic laws, especially those driving too fast (over 100 mph).
Police officers who enforce traffic laws.
Judges who issue warrants or orders for impounding vehicles.

Terms To Know

Impoundment: When the police take away a car because it was used in breaking certain laws.
Speed safety system: A device, like cameras or sensors, that records how fast cars are going on roads.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not say what happens to the car after it is taken away.
It's unclear if this law will change how often police take away cars for speeding over 100 mph.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-28 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
2025-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 983, as amended, Macedo.
Vehicles: removal and impoundment.
Existing law requires a magistrate to issue a warrant or order authorizing a peace officer to immediately seize and cause the removal of a vehicle if the magistrate is presented with a peace officer’s affidavit establishing reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle was an instrumentality used in the peace officer’s presence in violation of specified offenses, including, among others, a person who engages in a motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility, as specified.
Existing law makes it a crime to drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than 100 miles per hour.
This bill would include the above-described crime in the list of offenses for which a peace officer may impound a vehicle pursuant to a warrant or order issued by a
magistrate.
The bill would authorize a peace officer to alternatively establish reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle was used in violation of the above-described crime outside of the peace officer’s presence if the peace officer provides evidence recorded by a speed safety system, as specified.

Current Bill Text

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