83C-Motor Vehicle Inventory - 2019

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Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 6 Lexington Police Department Subject: Motor Vehicle Inventory Policy Number: 83C Accreditation Standards: Reference: 1.2.4(f) Effective Date: 1/1/11  New  Revised Revision Dates: 1/24/19 By Order of: Mark J. Corr, Chief of Police The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) is a private, nonprofit charitable affiliate of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. MPI provides training and model policies and procedures for police agencies. This policy is an edited version of MPI Policy 5.03, “Motor Vehicle Inventory.” GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES Often times a vehicle may be impounded by the Lexington Police Department. A proper inventory system is put into place in order to provide a measure of accountability for items located in the vehicle. Regardless of the reason that a motor vehicle is towed and/or impounded it will be the policy of the Lexington Police Department to routinely inventory the contents of all motor vehicles coming into police custody. A motor vehicle inventory is an administrative measure designed to: • Protect the motor vehicle as well as any personal property contained in such vehicle; • Protect the police and tow contractor against claims arising from property allegedly lost or stolen while in police custody; and • Protect Department personnel and the public from injury or property damage due to dangerous items or substances that may be contained in the vehicle. These measures are discussed in Commonwealth v. Garcia, 409 Mass. 675 (1991) This policy and procedure does not apply to searches, which are investigatory in nature. Consult the Department's policy and procedure entitled Searches and Seizures where the examination of a motor vehicle or its contents is to be conducted with an investigatory motive.