Drivers frustrated about long wait to pick up car from Memphis Police Impound Lot

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A problem persists at the Memphis Police Impound Lot, where cars are overfilling the facility.

Last week, FOX13 reported that tow truck operators were waiting for hours to drop off or pick up cars.

But the problem is causing headaches for drivers, too.

“If y’all car is missing or stolen, y’all should come up here and check this impound, because they have several cars everywhere,” said Terra Hughes, a stolen car victim.

When Hughes woke up one morning just days before Christmas, her Hyundai was missing from her driveway.

“My Christmas was ruined, New Year’s and my birthday. This is just ridiculous,” Hughes said.

Hughes spent more than three hours picking up her car at the Memphis Police Impound lot.

She said the towing company charged her $75 to bring her car from the lot to right across the street.

“This is shocking and depressing. I’m just happy I got my car back,” said Hughes.

Footage by Drone13 from last week provides a view of the overcrowded impound lot from the sky. Inch by inch, bumper to bumper, the lot is filled with stolen and abandoned cars along with cars involved in crashes.

As the number of carjackings and thefts skyrocketed across the city, so did the inventory at the lot.

Memphis Police said in 2019, 10,229 cars were towed to the impound lot.

In 2020, it was 11,453 cars, followed by 12,454 cars in 2021 and 15,067 cars in 2022.

Those picking up cars from the lot that were stolen were surprised and frustrated with the condition their cars are left in.

“In the MPD report, my car was not wrecked,” said Tasheia Davis, whose car was stolen. “Only the window and the steering wheel was messed up. When I get here to the impound, either them or the towing company wrecked my car. The whole front end of my bumper is hanging and gone.”

MPD told FOX13 that it will be reviewing the impound lot at the next Memphis City Council meeting on Jan. 24.