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Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure Abandoned Vehicles on Public Property |
Effective Date: 07/16/2020 | |
| Policy Number: PP-4743 - Abandoned Vehicles on Public Property |
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B. Procedure
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Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure Abandoned Vehicles on Public Property |
Effective Date: 07/16/2020 | |
| Policy Number: PP-4743 - Abandoned Vehicles on Public Property |
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1. When a vehicle is reported as abandoned, the call-taker will obtain information necessary for a follow up to be made. It will be determined if the vehicle is suspicious or abandoned. If the vehicle is suspicious, it shall be dispatched as such. A vehicle parked and limiting access may be towed immediately.
2. A vehicle shall be presumed to be abandoned if the vehicle has been left unattended on the roadway or public property for 24 hours or more.
3. Jefferson County Communications Center (JeffCom) will check for registration and wants and complete the CAD entry placing the call on the pending screen.
4. The assigned Community Service Officer (CSO) / Agent shall attempt to locate the vehicle. If the vehicle has been moved, the CSO/Agent shall notify JeffCom and mark the courtesy notice as such.
5. If the listing of the vehicle shows that the vehicle registers to an owner in the immediate vicinity of its location, the vehicle is properly registered and operable, the vehicle shall not be considered abandoned. The reporting party shall be recontacted and advised of this information. No further action shall be taken and the CAD report will be closed with notes.
6. If the vehicle has not been moved and qualifies as abandoned, the assigned CSO/Agent shall complete the remainder of the courtesy card and request a case report number.
7. The CSO/Agent shall detach the proper portion of the courtesy card and securely place it in an appropriate location on the vehicle.
8. The CSO/Agent shall mark the tires or other appropriate location with a yellow traffic crayon to aid in determining at a later date, whether the vehicle has been moved.
9. The CR number, date, and the CSO’s/Agent's initials shall be printed on a tire. (In the case of an inoperable vehicle, mark the window if there are no tires.)
10. The assigned Community Service Officer/Agent shall attempt to contact the owner of the abandoned vehicle. If the owner knows the whereabouts of the vehicle, indicates that it is not abandoned, and the vehicle is legally parked, the vehicle shall not be impounded. The reporting party shall be re-contacted and advised of this information. No further action shall be taken.
11. The Community Service Officer/Agent will record any attempt made to contact the registered owner on the 24-hour courtesy notice.
12. If the vehicle is still at the same location 24 hours after being marked, the CSO/Agent shall have the vehicle towed to the Police Department Official Police Garage.
13. While on scene with the abandoned vehicle, the assigned CSO/Agent shall again check to see if the vehicle is reported stolen.
14. The CSO/Agent shall complete a Vehicle Impound/Recovery Report.
15. All reports relating to the abandoned vehicle shall bear the original case report number assigned to the abandoned vehicle call.
16. The CSO/Agent shall detach the second page of the Vehicle Impound/Recovery Report and give this to the responding OPG driver.
17. After the vehicle is towed, the CSO/Agent shall attach the 24-hour Abandoned Vehicle Courtesy Notice to the original and other copies of the completed Vehicle Impound/Recovery Report.
18. These copies of the Vehicle Impound/Recovery Report, with attached 24-hour Abandoned Vehicle Courtesy Notice, shall be turned into a supervisor for approval and subsequent forwarding to the Records Section.
19. After final disposition, note will be made on the CAD report and the file closed.
20. No vehicle which is parked in the immediate vicinity of the owner's residence shall be ticketed or towed for violation of Section 10.33.080 or 10.33.030(a).
21. This procedure shall apply only to motor vehicles.