Council Community Improvement and Crime Prevention Committee
March 26, 2025

Neighborhood Services SectionAbandoned Vehicle Abatement Program Private PropertyCommunity Improvement & Crime Prevention CommitteeMarch 26, 2025Agenda Item 3.1 The Growing Problem of Abandoned Vehicles in StocktonoAbandoned vehicles negatively impact our city's aesthetics and safety. oThey contribute to blight, decrease property values, and pose health and safety hazards. oChapter 8.12 of the Stockton Municipal Code provides a legal framework to address this issue.

Understanding Key Terms
Abandoned VehicleInoperative VehicleVehicle Abatement Officer How Abandoned Vehicles are RemovedVehicle Abatement Process Identification
Notice
Hearing
Removal
Disposal
When Abatement May Not Apply
oVehicles completely enclosed within a building and not visible from public or private property oVehicles stored on private property for business purposes by licensed dismantlers, vehicle dealers, or junkyards Ensuring Compliance with the Law
•Vehicle Abatement Officer is the primary enforcer•California Highway Patrol may assist under certain agreementsEnforcement:
•Infractions for non-compliance with abatement orders•Increased penalties for repeat offenders Penalties:

Public Awareness•Community Involvement is KeyoEducating the public about abandoned vehicles helps prevent future occurrencesoReporting abandoned vehicles promptly aids in quicker removal

Funding for Abandoned Vehicle AbatementoVehicle Service AuthoritiesoSan Joaquin County AVA Service AuthorityoFee Collection and AllocationoRestricted Use of Funds: Section 22710(c)oParticipating Entities Private Property – Authority Fund StatsFY 2022/2023Abated 1,333 Vehicles Received$391,802.45FY 2023/2024Abated930 Vehicles Received$317,989.79 Stockton Police Department Traffic SectionAbandoned Autos •Broadly covers nuisance vehicles like dilapidated, inoperable, or street-repaired cars•Regardless of appearance or registration, a vehicle is considered 'abandoned' if it has not been moved for a prolonged time Abandoned VehicleDEFINITION:

HEALTH & SAFETY CONCERNS
oAbandoned vehicles degrade neighborhoods, fostering a sense of disorder and decayoThey pose safety risks, especially for children who may be tempted to play in or around themoThese vehicles can leak hazardous fluids, become magnets for vandalism and arsonoAbandoned vehicles can be used for illegal activities, provide shelter for the homeless, and hinder essential services like street cleaning

Abandoned Vehicle Removal Process
- Vehicles that are more than 6 months expired, do not require a notice and therefore may be towed under tow authority 22651(o) of the California Vehicle Code. COMPLAINT REVIEW
NOTICE
NOTICE COMPLIANCE ?

REMOVAL
DISPOSITIONVehicles with registration expired for over six months may be towed without notice under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(o) CommonImpound AuthoritiesCVC 22651(k): Vehicle unmoved after a 72-hour noticeCVC 22669(d): Immobilized vehicle (missing engine, transmission, wheels, etc.) or declared a public health/safety hazard

POLICE HURDLESHIGH COMPLAINT VOLUME• The Traffic Section experiences a consistently high influx of citizen complaints, with a backlog ranging from 200 to 400 active complaints at any given time.• An average of 10 to 20 new complaints are received daily, placing considerable demand on the section's resources.Resource Allocation and Complaint Prioritization:• A substantial portion of these complaints pertain to non-criminal parking violations.• While these complaints require investigation to determine legitimacy, they often divert officer time and resources away from addressing more serious, criminal traffic offenses.• This can lead to delays in response times for critical traffic-related issues.Ambiguity in Compliance Standards:• Stockton Municipal Code 10.04.600, pertaining to the 72-hour parking notice, mandates vehicle "movement" for compliance, but lacks specific distance requirements.• This ambiguity allows for minimal vehicle relocation to be considered compliant, hindering effective enforcement and potentially perpetuating parking-related concerns within the community.

Stockton Municipal Code 10.04.600No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than a period of 72 consecutive hours. In the event a vehicle is parked or left standing upon a street in excess of a period of 72 consecutive hours such vehicle may be removed in the manner and subject to the requirements of Article I of Chapter 10.16.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
•Stockton has a high volume of recreational vehicle (RV) complaints. In 2024, Traffic towed 44 RVs, most requiring commercial tow trucks due to their size and weight. •Only two of the 16 rotational tow companies have the equipment for large RVs, forcing the other 14 to sublet at substantial cost. •Towing and destroying RVs designated for destruction can cost local companies up to $3,500, depending on factors like hazardous materials and chemicals.

Abandoned Auto MissionsTo proactively address abandoned auto complaints and maintain a manageable caseload, the following measures have been implemented:Quarterly Intensive Missions:The department conducts quarterly, large-scale missions dedicated to addressing abandoned auto complaints. These missions involve over a dozen personnel deployed across all six police districts.Monthly Focused Missions:In addition to the quarterly efforts, smaller-scale missions are conducted monthly to provide ongoing attention to this issue.Dedicated Community Service Officer:A full-time Abandoned Auto Community Service Officer is assigned specifically to handle these complaints on a daily basis.

ABANDONED AUTO STATISTICS2023TOTAL COMPLAINTS 3,124 Vehicles TOTAL IMPOUNDS1,014 Vehicles2024TOTAL COMPLAINTS2,780 TOTAL IMPOUNDS1,257

TOW FEES & INFORMATION
PD Release Fee$249
Tow Fees$280*
Initial Tow Cost$529*
Average Daily Tow fee$80/day
Network of 16 Tow Providers
Some Impounds Exempt from Release fees