The following excerpt is from Smith v. Langford, No. 2:14-cv-1916 JAM GGH PS (E.D. Cal. 2015):
Plaintiff contends defendants violated his Fourth Amendment rights when they impounded plaintiff's car. "The impoundment of an automobile is a seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment." Miranda v. City of Cornelius, 429 F.3d 858, 862 (9th Cir. 2005). However, the Fourth Amendment allows for the impoundment of a vehicle "under the community caretaking doctrine if the driver's violation of a vehicle regulation prevents the driver from lawfully operating the vehicle, and also if it is necessary to remove the vehicle from an exposed
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