What Happens to Abandoned Cars? Cars are sometimes left abandoned on the sides
of major interstates and roads, as well as in parking lots. The reasons owners
walk away from their vehicles vary, but inability to afford tow service can be a
primary reason Car Tools store. Many
states have procedures to help rid their roads of abandoned cars and find the
owners. Once a car is reported as abandoned, local and state law enforcement
officers usually take several measures to get it removed. Abandoned-Vehicle
Complaints Most local police and state patrol departments learn of abandoned
vehicles through complaints. Citizens might notice that an unfamiliar car has
been left on their street for an extended period of time. They might notice cars
abandoned along the sides of major interstates and state highways, although
police and state patrol officers often notice and investigate these cases on
their own launch
x431. Once an abandoned-vehicle complaint is received, information is
collected regarding its make, model, license plate and location. Investigation
and Tagging After a complaint is received, a police officer or volunteer goes to
the site reported for the abandonment. If a car matching the description is
found, it's usually marked with some sort of tag to officially notify the owner
of the vehicle that he needs to move the car within a certain time frame. Some
states allow only 24 hours, and others allow up to 72 hours. Removal and Towing
Police officers and volunteers usually go back to check the area where the
abandoned vehicle was tagged. If the vehicle has not been moved, the police
department calls an authorized towing service to remove and impound it. Vehicles
that do not have current registration information will be considered to be the
property of the last registered owner. Registered owners are typically notified
by mail that their cars have been impounded. Vehicle Retrieval Owners who wish
to retrieve their vehicles usually need to contact the towing company listed on
the impound notice. They may be required to pay towing fees, penalties and
impound release fees. Some states have time restrictions for claiming an
abandoned vehicle from the towing company. If abandoned vehicles that have been
impounded are not claimed within that period, the car may be sold at a public
auction. Once the vehicle is sold at an auction, the title is transferred to the
new owner.
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