Abandoned Vehicle Laws

[Richard]

In the "Punks" thread where the jeep damaged the fields... it reminded me of something that happened to me once. Rather than take the thread off topic, I thought I'd mention it here.

Long time ago, around 1986, I had a 1971 Olds 4-4-2 convertible. (455, 4bbl & 3 speed Hurst)

I had two cars which made it easier for me

I was in Charleston SC when the front wheel suspension broke. The upper "A" frame that held the wheel broke and the wheel was essentially sideways.

Towed to a service shop, they said they could fix it but, might take couple weeks to get part in.

No problem, I have a second car. I am however, living in Tennessee so I have a logistical issue but.....that is my problem.

Couple weeks go by, I hear nothing so I call them. "can't find the part yet"

No problem

Couple more weeks go by... call...."can't find part yet"

Maybe a month goes by.... I get a letter in mail stating that my vehicle has been declared abandoned and unless I (do something for which I now forget) I will lose the title.

I was immediately infuriated as what it was READING to be was they were delaying the situation so they could "take" (legally steal) my car

I called around that day. In about an hour of phone work, I found the part.

Called them, said the car was NOT abandoned, I had found the part in an hour that they mysteriously couldn't find in maybe two months.. the part was being overnighted to them and when will the car be ready

I would have fixed it elsewhere but it was in a different state and needed a flatbed or something to move so I had one hand tied behind my back.

Picked it up a week or so later. I didn't have much to say to them as I felt they revealed themselves to be 100% crooks.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Crooks. glad you got it fixed.

I had my car towed by a predatory towing company once, came and took it off my apartment parking lot. Fortunately there were witnesses, who tried to stop them, and I filed a police report that it was stolen. Police did nothing, and I had to go and get it myself, they wouldn't even return it.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Local towing company has a contract with the police department. Most of its employees are ex cons. They towed my friends car for a parking violation and ripped off the front bumper in the process. When he complained, they responded the bumper had a design flaw, lol Of course, the city was no help and he had to pay for his own repair.

 

[Mace Canute]

Reminds me of something that happened the summer of 73. I was living in Vancouver in an old mansion that had been converted into multiple suites and the caretaker had a kid around 13 or 14 who (putting it nicely) was "less than worldly". There was parking in the back yard off the alley for a half dozen vehicles and one fine day one of the other tenants was royally ticked off because his brand new car had been stolen from his parking stall. You guessed it! The kid had it towed because he didn't recognize it!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Small towns, you gotta love them. In the late eightees I was working for a security company. Someone had parked (once again) in front of our driveway marked with no parking signs. I couldn't get out to go on a service call, and incensed, I called bylaw enforcement and wanted the vehicle towed immediately. Bylaw thought they maybe reccognised the vehicle as being someone on council and spent the next half hour or so making all manner of calls to see if the vehicle really belonged to such and such. I don't even remember how the matter ended. I think some stranger finally just showed up and drove away. Different rules for different fools.

 

[mark02tj]

Reminds me of something that happened the summer of 73. I was living in Vancouver in an old mansion that had been converted into multiple suites and the caretaker had a kid around 13 or 14 who (putting it nicely) was "less than worldly". There was parking in the back yard off the alley for a half dozen vehicles and one fine day one of the other tenants was royally ticked off because his brand new car had been stolen from his parking stall. You guessed it! The kid had it towed because he didn't recognize it!

That reminds me of a story my ex-business-partner told me.... During his career, he worked for one of the big (high-falutin') international accounting firms in Houston. All of the partners had reserved parking spots in the parking garage. One Saturday one of the partners drove in his son's old beater pickup to do some errands after work. Another partner saw the beater parked in a "partner's spot" and had it towed, thinking he was doing the guy a favor. After all, what kind of self-respecting CPA would drive an old beater? :laughing::laughing:

 

[oosik]

I'm familiar with the "Abandoned Vehicle Laws" in four widespread jurisdictions and believe me, each is unique and completely different from the other three.

Its all in the actions that a person or government must go thru in establishing the presumption of abandonment. Some are quite simple, while others are outrageously complex.