Will the traffic police impound a vehicle in locked status?
2 Answers
When a vehicle is in a locked status, it cannot be driven on the road. Otherwise, if discovered by law enforcement authorities such as traffic police, the vehicle will be impounded. The following situations may result in a vehicle being locked: 1. Failure to repay car loans on time: For vehicles purchased through installment loans, if the borrower stops repaying the loan after just 3 months despite making the initial down payment, the vehicle will be locked. Missing payments for 3 months may lead to repossession, but complete cessation of payments may be considered contract fraud, resulting in the vehicle being locked. 2. Involvement in criminal cases: According to relevant laws, vehicles involved in criminal cases may be seized by investigative authorities. 3. Major accidents: Vehicles involved in major accidents that remain unresolved (though these can be unlocked) will be locked. This includes cases where accidents are not settled, hit-and-run incidents, or suspected vehicles, all of which can be identified through the traffic police's internal network. 4. Owner request or court order: Vehicles may be locked at the owner's request or by court order.
Over the years of driving, I've often seen friends' cars getting their wheels locked. If a vehicle is in a locked state due to illegal parking and gets clamped by traffic police, they might indeed impound the car when they find it, as they're already handling your violation. For example, if you're parked in a no-parking zone and your car gets clamped, and the traffic police patrol comes by to confirm the situation, if the owner doesn't deal with it promptly or lacks proper documentation, they might directly arrange for a tow truck to impound the car. Then, you'd have to rush to pay the fine to retrieve your car, which is a hassle. However, if it's an anti-theft lock you installed yourself and the car is locked, that's generally fine—the traffic police usually won't pay attention unless they suspect it's a stolen car. In general, avoid parking in prohibited zones or letting parking fees expire, and you'll reduce the risk of getting clamped or impounded. Follow the rules, use parking apps to remind yourself of time limits, and maintain a clear-headed driving mindset—everyone can travel with peace of mind.
