French Code of Criminal Procedure
In forceThe owner whose vehicle has been impounded on the authorisation of the public prosecutor pursuant to
articles L. 325-1-1 or L. 325-1-2 of the Highway Codeand who has subsequently been acquitted by a final decision may, in accordance with the provisions of the last paragraph of article L.
If the acquittal decision was handed down by the Criminal Appeals Chamber, the request is made to the Public Prosecutor.
This request must be made, within six months at the latest of the date on which the acquittal decision became final, by declaration to the court clerk's office against a receipt or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
The request must be accompanied by a copy of the acquittal decision and proof of payment of the costs of removal and impoundment.
The amount of the reimbursement is calculated on the basis of the rates for removal costs and impoundment costs set in accordance with the provisions of IV of Article R. 325-29 of the Highway Code.
The reimbursement may not relate to custody costs for a period subsequent to the decision to release the vehicle from impoundment.
The reimbursement is paid by the court's imprest administrator on the basis of the decision of the public prosecutor or the public prosecutor's office.
The decision of the public prosecutor or the public prosecutor's office may be appealed by the claimant, within ten days of its notification, to the court that handed down the acquittal. This appeal is made by declaration to the court clerk's office against a receipt or by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
