Abandoned Vehicles

In order to assist your neighborhood, Sheriff’s Deputies and Code Enforcement Officers have been assigned to patrol all areas of Monterey County. Their assignment is removing and abating improperly parked, abandoned, wrecked, dismantled and inoperative vehicles and other objects, like RVs and trailers, left on the streets or private property in violation of State Laws (22669 CVC) or County Ordinances (12.72 MCC)

A major part of urban blight and poor sanitation involves problems with discarded, abandoned or neglected personal property such as old cars. Many of these cars, ignored by their owners are left to decay and pose a health and safety risk. They become a target of vandals, dangerous to children and a home to rodents, stray animals and illegal activity. They usually have some amounts of old gasoline and oil, often leaking on the ground contaminating ground water. They also pose a risk of fire or explosion if accidentally exposed to flame.

Most people are well meaning and plan to "get around to" fixing or registering their vehicles. Others simply store their cars wherever they can. These never-ending repair or restoration projects cannot stay in a yard. Cars that people can't drive go neglected and unregistered. Some of the parked cars we notice for abatement have been motionless and a hazard for years.

Vehicles parked on public property, like streets, highways or public parking lots, can be removed by any Deputy or Code Enforcement Officer after placing a notice on the vehicle. If the vehicle is clearly a safety hazard or blocking traffic, it can be removed immediately without any notice.

Concern that such cars and other objects would pose a risk to their adjoining properties; citizens requested the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff’s Office to make a special effort to clean up the unincorporated areas of the county.

 

The Code Enforcement Officer or Sheriff’s Deputies check vehicles parked to see if any of the following apply: