10GCertain vehicles seized or surrendered—release by chief

10G Certain vehicles seized or surrendered—release by chief police officer (1) A person may apply to the chief police officer for the release to the person of a motor vehicle that has been— (a) seized under section 10C (1) (a); or (b) surrendered in the circumstances mentioned in section 10BA (1). (2) The chief police officer must release the vehicle to the person if— (a) the chief police officer is satisfied that the person is entitled to possession of the vehicle; and (b) the period for which the chief police officer is required under section 10E to keep the vehicle has ended; and

(c) any fee or other amount payable under the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 in relation to the impounding and seizure of the vehicle has been paid. (3) The chief police officer may release the vehicle to the person if— (a) the chief police officer is satisfied that the person is entitled to possession of the vehicle; and (b) the chief police officer is satisfied that— (i) the offence for which the vehicle was impounded was not committed by, or with the consent of, the person; and (ii) the person did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have known, that the vehicle would be used for the commission of the offence; and (c) any fee or other amount payable under the Road Transport (General) Act 1999 in relation to the seizure and impounding of the vehicle has been paid. (4) The chief police officer must ensure that an impounded vehicle is available for collection by a person as soon as practicable after the person becomes entitled to possession of it. (5) If a motor vehicle is released to a person under this section, the person must acknowledge in writing receiving the vehicle.