How long to report a vehicle parked?

[Alan A]

So our road is not a culdesac in a neighborhood.
There’s no parking on it and it’s moderately busy. We have an area across from us that you can pull over into. It’s just long enough for a car to pull over so another one can pass. I used it when we had the driveway done. The utility companies use it to fix stuff, and school buses sit there in the morning. Other than that it’s empty.

There’s been a car sitting there since Friday. It’s an old X5.
It’s not one of the neighbors and no one is having their drive redone.

How long would you (all) leave it before reporting it as abandoned?
Caveat - I’m not in CA and no one is living in it…

[sc_rufctr]

4ish Days? ... So I'd suggest reporting it today.

[look 171]

What Ca have to do with it?

I would call immediately because parking is a premium. where I live and the new neighbor is too keen on following the rules.

[Superman]

I'd report it now. Get the process started. It will take some time for it to be impounded, if abandoned.

[rwest]

Before you call, write down the license plate number so they can run it to see if it has been reported.

[The Synergizer]

When the trunk starts to smell.

[DavidI]

Take a photo of the car and report it anonymously. Give the police the license plate, make and model. It made be a stolen car that was dumped. In many cases, the bad guys change the license plates stolen from another car called "cold plating." Either way, in California a member of law enforcement would come out, mark the tires and street with a date and give the owner 72 hours to move the vehicle. If after the 72 hours it has not been moved, it would be towed away.

Good luck, David

[epbrown]

In Chicago, you can report a car as abandoned after 3 days. They put a fluorescent orange sticker on the window, chalk a tire and write to the registered owner that they've got 2 days to move it.

[GH85Carrera]

At my old bachelor pad house, a car showed up in front of my house and did not move for a couple of day. It was real close to the driveway and made it really hard to get in or out of my driveway. I asked the neighbors, and they all said it was not theirs.

I called the cops and reported it, and gave them the tag number. They were out in 30 minutes and towed it away as evidence. Evidently it was used in a robbery, and the tag number had been reported. The cop thanked me for reporting it. I was happy it was gone.

[Tobra]

Whenever I call in stuff like that, they ask for the VIN and license plate. Depends on the vehicle. I saw a BMW 325 convertible sitting on 4 donut spares with no steering wheel and no front seats one time walking the dogs. Called that one in the minute I saw it. "How do you know it is a dumped, stolen car?" Like I said, no steering wheel or front seats in the car, doubt it was driven here.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

4ish Days? ... So I'd suggest reporting it today.

I believe it is 4 days in Chicago. I was incorrect: it is 72 hours.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Whenever I call in stuff like that, they ask for the VIN and license plate. Depends on the vehicle. I saw a BMW 325 convertible sitting on 4 donut spares with no steering wheel and no front seats one time walking the dogs. Called that one in the minute I saw it. "How do you know it is a dumped, stolen car?" Like I said, no steering wheel or front seats in the car, doubt it was driven here.

The people on the other end of the call hear the stupidest stuff you can imagine. They have had to go on the defensive. I think I'd be good at that job as I can be as acerbic as anyone on the planet. Well, maybe not more than Speeder.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I think I'd be good at that job as I can be as acerbic as anyone on the planet. Well, maybe not more than Speeder.

You would be good for a day then you would get your walking papers. You would end up challenging the caller. Lol

It's a strange world with rules us Boomers struggle to fathom.

Neither one of you two are acerbic. But you can be acerbic.

Just sayin.

[Bob Kontak]

Context: (Have a good weekend)

[Otter74]

On paper, sure, but anyone who does that is an ***hole. Lots of people - me included - own a car, park it on the street, but don’t use it every day - or even, often, at all during the week - because we have great public transit or etc. etc. Fortunately I don’t live in a neighborhood full of dicks. The cars-must-be-moved mindset is better suited for subdivisions in car-dependent suburbs.

Originally Posted by jcommin

I believe it is 4 days in Chicago. I was incorrect: it is 72 hours.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Otter74

On paper, sure, but anyone who does that is an ***hole. Lots of people - me included - own a car, park it on the street, but don’t use it every day - or even, often, at all during the week - because we have great public transit or etc. etc. Fortunately I don’t live in a neighborhood full of dicks. The cars-must-be-moved mindset is better suited for subdivisions in car-dependent suburbs.

I can look down my street and normally there are no cars parked on the street at all. On occasions a guest comes over and they park on the street for a short visit.

The residents all know, park in the garage, or on your own driveway.

[unclebilly]

I would call the police and report a suspicious vehicle with the vin and the plate number so they can check it out. If it’s still there after 2 weeks, I would report it as abandoned.

[unclebilly]

Is the ignition switch intact?

[wswartzwel]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Context: (Have a good weekend)

That's some good stuff, tried it last week for the first time.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Otter74

On paper, sure, but anyone who does that is an ***hole. Lots of people - me included - own a car, park it on the street, but don’t use it every day - or even, often, at all during the week - because we have great public transit or etc. etc. Fortunately I don’t live in a neighborhood full of dicks. The cars-must-be-moved mindset is better suited for subdivisions in car-dependent suburbs.

In my experience, people calling were more an issue on streets with houses rather than a lot of apartment buildings. I lived in Lakeview the 30 years I was there, and yeah, most people left their cars parked all week without issue.

However, I had a cop report my car as abandoned any time it sat in the same spot for three days. I just had to move it and remove the sticker, minor hassle. Always the same guy. He had a thing about Rolls-Royces, apparently.