CITY lawmakers are cracking down on abandoned vehicles – mayor says streets will be clean by the end of the year.
He said he has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of abandoned vehicles.
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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced a citywide crackdown on abandoned vehicles after noticing more abandoned vehicles since January.
“This is just classic Detroit, where I think, ‘Why am I seeing more abandoned cars on the streets now?’” he told the newspaper. Detroit Free Press.
“Since January we have been serious. It will take until the end of the year to really clean everything up.”
In Detroit, it is against municipal code to leave cars parked on streets and lawns for long periods of time.
Read more about abandoned cars
It also prohibits private property owners from parking vehicles, whether moving or not, on unpaved surfaces.
Mainly vehicles with experienced license plates.
Since the initiative began, the city has responded to about 80 apparently abandoned vehicles per week.
City officials leave a notice about a car that appears abandoned, and if there is no response or the vehicle is not moved within 48 hours, it will be towed.
ABC News reporters accompanied Officer Benta Dixon to warn residents about the new rules, and one Cornelia Tyler had several cars parked in her yard.
She didn’t know she wasn’t allowed to park vehicles on unpaved surfaces — which included her yard.
Dixon told Tyler that homeowners can only have one inoperable vehicle on their property at a time, all tires must be inflated and vehicles must be under a tarp or in a shed.
“So we can’t park in our own backyard?” Tyler asked Dixon.
Dixon informed her that the vehicle parked in the grass was what put the Toyota Camry, which had front end damage and was missing a wheel on the driver’s side, in violation.
Tyler said she parks her cars in her yard to avoid being damaged by speeding.
The Camry was his daughter’s car, which was totaled by a careless driver.
How to report an abandoned car
Reporting an abandoned vehicle is important to keep city streets safe and clean
An abandoned car is not only an eyesore, but also a danger to the surrounding community, as pests and rodents can take refuge inside, in the engine compartment or in the trunk.
Leaking fluids can be dangerous to the environment, as many vehicle fluids are toxic and can wreak havoc on ecosystems if they enter waterways.
They can also encourage crime, with several cities like Oakland, California, reporting that drug dealers can use them to hide and steal drugs or weapons.
Abandoned vehicles can also decrease property values.
So they are worth it. The specific contact information for your city’s abandoned car hotline may vary, but the required vehicle information is the same.
When reporting an abandoned vehicle, the police will need:
- The exact address of the vehicle
- Steering column information (broken, missing, intact, etc.)
- Vehicle condition (severely damaged, broken windows, leaking fluids, missing body panels or doors, etc.)
- Brand and model
- Color
- Body style (pickup, SUV, sedan, etc.)
- License plate number and state, if applicable
- VIN
Many cities will allow residents to report abandoned vehicles online via an online form or through an online form.
Source: ABC affiliate WPVI-TV
“This isn’t the first time,” Tyler said of his daughter’s car.
“My car was parked outside, my car was also hit.”
Their vehicles were hit multiple times and ended up costing their family a lot of money as insurance premiums increased with each incident.
“We have insurance for our vehicles, but our insurance goes up all the time… I mean, it’s not like we’re rich people,” she said.
She told Dixon that parking in the yard also helped protect her cars from being damaged by thieves.
“We’re in a poor neighborhood and we’re doing the best we can to survive…so you have to worry about your car getting broken into,” Tyler said.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
