If that is true then is a complete violation of the 4th amendment.
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Can they take the tags, yes,
Can they take the car and destroy it, no
Lets say you have a cracked hose and it simply becomes disconnected that by definition is tampered with, and by what you are saying gives Ca. the right to take possession of your vehicle and crush it.
Complete violation of the law.
How does this crap become law out there?