Any way to contact owner of abandoned vehicle *before* towing? (California)

[CZroe]

I'm sure the particulars are specific to local laws, but perhaps there is someone here who has had to do this in CA.

Basically, my boss wants be to find out how we can tow some cars that heve been in the lot at work for over a month. We do not have any information on file to identify the owners and the police say that all they can tell us is that the VINs match the plates and they aren't stolen. They say that they or the city can't tow from private property, though I've found laws that say otherwise.

http://bit.ly/5sQsBL

V C Section 22669 Removal of Abandoned Vehicles
Removal of Abandoned Vehicles
22669. (a) Any peace officer...who has reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle has been abandoned...may remove the vehicle from a highway or from public or private property.

The tow companies all give me conflicting answers about whether they can even tow on our behalf. Most say we need signage but also agree that we aren't forced to keep it forever just because we didn't have signs, though none could tell me how long new signs would have to be posted before we could tow.

Most tow companies will impound the vehicle and bill the owner which, obviously, requires that they contact them. If we could contact the owners ourselves, we may be able to avoid the towing entirely. I know they won't just give us the info, but will the DMV contact them on our behalf? The tow service said that they would get the owners' info by requesting a VIR, "Vehicle Information Report," which isn't free and it looks like a lot of the for-pay services still will not tell you who owns it. Is there anything like that which I can use for the name only? Heck, even the initials would be a huge help (I could search the employee database).

 

[lupi]

have the property owner call the cops?

 

[CZroe]

have the property owner call the cops?

The cops already said that they can't tow it from private property.

 

[jlee]

The cops already said that they can't tow it from private property.

They may be able to make an attempt to contact the registered owner (we do - YMMV, of course).

 

[EagleKeeper]

Get a heavy duty pickup and a tow chain.
Pull the vehicle onto a public right of way

 

[BoomerD]

The Kahleeforneeya DMV won't provide you with the name or contact information...or at least they're not SUPPOSED to do so...but some businesses can get the information for a fee. (tow companies, parking companies, etc.)

Your best bet is to continue talking to the local police department...or just pay to have them towed and let the towing company deal with it.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

why dont you just leave notes on the windshield asking them to move the cars???? unless they are abandoned cars they will probably check on them once in a while right?

 

[CZroe]

They may be able to make an attempt to contact the registered owner (we do - YMMV, of course).

I'll ask again on a different shift. Thanks!

Get a heavy duty pickup and a tow chain.
Pull the vehicle onto a public right of way

I was thinking about it actually, but it'd require a roll-back.

why dont you just leave notes on the windshield asking them to move the cars???? unless they are abandoned cars they will probably check on them once in a while right?

We have (no response). I'm pretty sure that at least one is an employee car due to a sticker badge in the backseat that is only issued to regular employees. Unfortunately, it's not legible.

 

[mjrpes3]

Send an email to all staff with inquiry and a reminder not to use the parking lot for long term storage?

 

[BoomerD]

We have (no response). I'm pretty sure that at least one is an employee car due to a sticker badge in the backseat that is only issued to regular employees. Unfortunately, it's not legible.

Send an email to all staff with inquiry and a reminder not to use the parking lot for long term storage?

In that email, tell all employees that they have 48 hours to move their car or it will be towed at their expense. Post it on the company bulletin board and in whatever lunch room/break area you have as well.
Also, if you have parking passes, start requiring them to be posted in plain view, not thrown on the back seat. You should only have to tow a few and they'll get the message.

 

[SooperDave]

You could take a Slim Jim (or a brick) and get the info out of the glove boxes but all this trouble when you could just have these cars towed away makes me wonder if we are getting the whole story.

edit: Also writing across the back window "Getting Towed Soon" in shoe polish might get a response.

 

[PottedMeat]

Get a socket set and take it apart piece by piece. Sell on ebay.

Put up a flyer that says 'Free Pick-A-Part <Vehicle name>'

Drop a joint/kilo of coke in the window or roll dead hooker under car - tell cops.

Scatter condom wrappers in & around the car - tell cops hookers are turnin' tricks in the garage.

 

[Ichinisan]

Get a socket set and take it apart piece by piece. Sell on ebay.

Put up a flyer that says 'Free Pick-A-Part <Vehicle name>'

Drop a joint/kilo of coke in the window or roll dead hooker under car - tell cops.

Scatter condom wrappers in & around the car - tell cops hookers are turnin' tricks in the garage.

These.

 

[alevasseur14]

We get cops to run plates all the time at work. They aren't supposed to but we've known 90&#37; of them for 10+ years. Maybe someone at your job has a close friend who's also a cop?

 

[alkemyst]

You may not need to pay if you have multiple cars. Let a tow company know and see what they can do. They will know the proper procedure to follow as well if applicable (tagging the car with a warning may be required for a certain period first).

Just make sure you have discussed this with the property owner. Some fucktard had a boat removed from a place we worked at and it was the owner's. It's a heck of a lot more problematic to tow someone's boat wrongfully than a car I found.

 

[alkemyst]

We get cops to run plates all the time at work. They aren't supposed to but we've known 90% of them for 10+ years. Maybe someone at your job has a close friend who's also a cop?

Those cops should be fired.

 

[sandorski]

You may not need to pay if you have multiple cars. Let a tow company know and see what they can do. They will know the proper procedure to follow as well if applicable (tagging the car with a warning may be required for a certain period first).

Just make sure you have discussed this with the property owner. Some fucktard had a boat removed from a place we worked at and it was the owner's. It's a heck of a lot more problematic to tow someone's boat wrongfully than a car I found.

Yup, call a reputable Tow Company and let them deal with it.

 

[BoomerD]

Kahleeforneeya USED to provide this information just for the asking...but a few morons ruined it...by attacking/killing the people whose information they had obtained.