Police Department Fees – City of Atwater

Fees
Release of Vehicles
FAQ

Copies .10 (per page) $15 per CD;
False Alarms: 0, $67, $135, $337
Domestic Animal permit: (Set by the municipal code) $31
Animals to the Pound $124
Clearance letter $31
Dance Permit $37
Fingerprint Card $37+ DoJ Fees if applicable
Live Scan $57 + DoJ Fees if applicable
Bicycle license $7
Secondhand Dealer/Pawn Broker License (initial) $41
Secondhand Dealer/Pawn Broker License (renewal) $37
Alcohol Consumption Permit (City property, per event) $50
Solicitor Permit (non-profit) $25
Solicitor Permit (profit) $49
Handgun Dealer Permit (initial) $49
Handgun Dealer Permit (renewal) $31
Police Reports, Crime/Accident (first 4 pages) $25
Jail Booking County Cost plus 20%
Citation Sign-Off (for non-Atwater resident) $18
Stored Vehicle Release $282
Repossession Filing Fee (mandated by State Gov. Code 41612) $20
Concealed Weapon Permit (initial) $220
Concealed Weapon Permit (renewal) $170
Emergency Response (Gov. Code 53150-53158) Actual Cost plus 15%
Amplified Sound Permit $50
Taxi Cab Permits (initial) $50
Taxi Cab Permits (renewal) $31
Tow Company Franchise fee $61

FY 24-25 Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (Resolution No. 3460-24)

Release of Vehicles

All impounded vehicles, stored vehicles, and recovered stolen vehicles require a vehicle release form from the Records Department. Vehicle information will not be released over the phone. If you wish to ask questions regarding a stored vehicle you will have to appear in person and establish that you are the registered owner of the vehicle. This will require valid identification with a picture on the card, military identification, passport.

Vehicles impounded will only be released to the registered owner. If you are not the registered owner, you will need to obtain a notarized letter authorizing release of the vehicle to you. The registered owner will need to identify you and the vehicle in the notarized letter. The letter must include your driver’s license number, description of the car (make, model, year) and either the vehicle license plate number or vehicle identification (VIN) number.

The Atwater Police Department will not charge a fee to those persons retrieving a vehicle that has been stolen and recovered. There is a $282.00 release fee required for all impounded vehicles and due to the Atwater Police Department. All towing and storage fees are due to the towing company storing your vehicle. All registration fees on impounded vehicles must be current prior to release. Impound/stored vehicles will only be released during normal business hours – Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The owner of an impounded vehicle has the right to a Post Storage Hearing. Please contact the Atwater Police Department, Records Bureau at 209-357-6384 hearings are conducted Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 1 PM.

For further assistance or questions regarding the release of impounded vehicles or recovered stolen vehicles, please contact Records at 209-357-6384.

Frequently Asked Questions

There may be extenuating circumstances to the 30 day impound rule. The owner of the vehicle may request a Post Storage Hearing in order to present these facts to the Atwater Police Department hearing officer.

A Post Storage Hearing is an interview conducted by the Officer in charge of Impounds at the request of the registered owner of the vehicle. This interview determines whether the vehicle in question can be released prior to the 30 days impound period.

The $282 release fee is an administrative fee applied to the release of an impounded vehicle as authorized by local city ordinance and 22850.5 of the California Vehicle Code.

Live Scan is a computer-based device that reads the patterns directly from the subject’s fingers eliminating the need to take inked fingerprints on a card. Instead, the fingers are rolled or pressed onto a glass plate. The image is then transmitted to the California Department of Justice along with information entered from the Request for Live Scan Service form provided to the applicant by the agency asking them to be fingerprinted. The Department of Justice then sends a response directly to that agency within 7 working days providing a much faster response as opposed to the inked fingerprint cards. Further information on Live Scan fingerprinting and how to become a Live Scan applicant agency can be obtained at the California Department of Justice web site at http://caag.state.ca.us.

A valid photo ID that has your photo and signature is required for any type of applicant fingerprinting (i.e. valid driver license, California ID card, passport or military ID).

If the agency requesting you to be fingerprinted provides you with an inked fingerprint card be sure to bring that with you. It must be completed in black ink and signed in front of the person fingerprinting you so it’s best to the form here.

Be sure to bring with you the fingerprint cards provided to you by the requesting establishment.

The fingerprinting process usually takes a minimum of 30 minutes to complete. Sometimes it may take longer so please plan accordingly.