What happens if a vehicle was unlawfully impounded?

If a vehicle is determined to have been unlawfully impounded, the appropriate response is to recover the vehicle without delay. This means that the owner should be able to retrieve their vehicle immediately since it was impounded in violation of legal protocols or established procedures. Additionally, the costs related to the impoundment, such as towing fees or storage charges, would typically be the responsibility of the department that unlawfully impounded the vehicle.

It is essential to ensure that an individual's rights are protected, and that unlawful government actions do not result in unnecessary financial burdens on citizens. Thus, rectifying the mistake by releasing the vehicle to its rightful owner without charging them is a fair and just outcome in such cases.

The other choices imply actions that would not align with the principle of ensuring lawful procedures are followed, such as extending impoundment until a hearing or restricting who can retrieve the vehicle. These alternatives do not adequately protect the rights of vehicle owners when an unlawful impoundment has occurred.