Columbia Impoundment of vehicles for outstanding parking tickets ordinance (§ 14-307)
Chapter 14: Motor Vehicles and Traffic · Article V. Stopping, Standing and Parking
In short: A vehicle can be impounded if it has four or more unpaid parking tickets, or if its owner ignored a court summons on a parking violation and a warrant was issued. For unpaid tickets, a notice must be on the vehicle at least 72 hours before towing. Only vehicles on public streets, garages or lots can be impounded.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) A vehicle may be impounded if:
(1) There are four (4) or more parking tickets issued against the vehicle which remain unpaid, or (2)
There has been no appearance or plea made by a party with a valid interest in the vehicle cited for a violation of the parking ordinances contained within this code after having been duly summoned by the judge of the municipal court and for which a warrant for failure to appear has been issued.
(b) A vehicle shall not be impounded for unpaid parking tickets under subsection (a)(1) above unless notice of eligibility for towing and impoundment has been affixed to the vehicle at least seventy-two (72) hours before the vehicle is towed. The notice shall state that the vehicle is eligible for towing and impoundment for unpaid parking tickets and shall include contact information for paying or contesting the parking tickets and for requesting a hearing on whether the vehicle is eligible for impoundment.
(c) No vehicle shall be impounded under this section unless the vehicle is on a public street, public parking garage or in a public parking lot.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 14-307
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.