California · Vehicle Code

VEH §6171: When criminal charges have been filed involving a motor vehicle alleged to have been stolen and the vehicle is in the custody of a peace officer for evidentiary purposes, it shall be held in custody o

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

When a stolen motor vehicle is held as evidence in a criminal case, it must remain in custody until both prosecution and defense can examine it and document its condition and value for trial.

Read the full statutory text

When criminal charges have been filed involving a motor vehicle alleged to have been stolen and the vehicle is in the custody of a peace officer for evidentiary purposes, it shall be held in custody or, if a request for its release from custody is made, until the prosecutor has notified the defendant or his or her attorney of that request and both the prosecution and defense have been afforded a reasonable opportunity for an examination of the motor vehicle to determine its true value and to produce or reproduce, by photographs or other identifying techniques, legally sufficient evidence for introduction at trial or other criminal proceedings.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.