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Utah Introduces Online Impounded-Vehicle Searches

More than half of the state's private tow companies send information to the state; and all companies will participate by the end of the year.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah rolled out an online searchable database for impounded cars, trucks and motorcycles that's now available through the state's Web site.

The database will help people search for impounded vehicles and obtain vehicle release requirements. Most citizens are unaware of whom to contact when their vehicles are towed, officials said, and must often call more than one law enforcement agency to locate their impounded vehicles.

With the new online service, law enforcement and dispatch centers can now provide immediate access to impounded vehicle information. The system allows towing companies to quickly report on each impounded vehicle as required by law by providing storage location, release costs and other information that can now be accessed over the Internet.

Constituents can search by vehicle identification number, license plate or state impound number. The new service is a collaboration of the Utah Tax Commission, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Transportation, the governor's office and tow companies across the state.

"This is one more example of making interaction with government easier for people," said Gov. Mike Leavitt. "The collaboration among agencies through this service will allow people to find and retrieve their vehicles faster."

More than 50 percent of the state's tow companies are currently using the impounded-vehicle-search system. By the end of December, all companies handling non-consent tows will be required to use the online service. An enhanced service that allows constituents to pay vehicle release costs online is also in development.

This new service was built and is managed by Utah Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the electronic-government firm NIC.

Utah Interactive