Abandoned Auto
General Information
The Abandoned Auto Detail is the unit within the Traffic Division that is responsible for towing vehicles that have been reported as abandoned. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the Abandoned Auto Detail operation. Use the links below to go directly to the listed information.
Calls to the Abandoned Auto Detail
How a towed vehicle is returned
Removal of Courtesy Warning Stickers
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The Abandoned Auto Detail operates Monday through Friday. Currently,
six Police Service Technicians are assigned to the Detail, and they
work five days a week, eight hours a day.
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| To report abandoned vehicles parked on the street for over 72 hours, call the Abandoned Auto Detail at 510-777-8622. Fax information to 510-777-8880. Or email the location, description, and license number of the vehicle, if known, to abandonedauto@oaklandnet.com |
| Why does voicemail always answer when I call the Abandoned Auto Detail? |
| All the Police Service Technicians in the Abandoned Auto Detail are assigned to field duty. Each morning, all voicemail messages are retrieved and distributed to the appropriate Police Service Technician for the caller's area. |
| What is the process for having a vehicle investigated and towed away? |
| Once a call for service is received, a Police Service Technician goes to the scene and investigates the complaint. |
| One of several outcomes will occur: |
| The vehicle may be towed away on first check, using several California Vehicle Code Sections such as Expired Registration over Six Months, Five or More Unpaid Parking Tickets, or Missing Vehicle Parts Needed to Operate. |
| The vehicle may have a Courtesy Warning Sticker applied to the windshield giving notice that the vehicle must be driven at least one mile within the next 72 hours. The Police Service Technician records the vehicle's odometer reading and marks a tire for recheck after the 72 hours have passed. If the vehicle has not been driven one mile after 72 hours have passed, the vehicle will be towed. |
| The Police Service Technician may determine that the vehicle is not abandoned and clearly is driven on a regular basis. No further action will be taken. |
| All vehicles towed by the Abandoned Auto Detail can be retrieved by the owner after a fee is paid to the City and the tow company. |
| What will happen if the vehicle's owner removes the Courtesy Warning Sticker and does not move the vehicle? |
| A Police Service Technician recorded the odometer reading and marked a tire when he or she issued the Courtesy Warning Sticker. Whether or not the Courtesy Sticker is still on the vehicle's windshield, the Police Service Technician will return after 72 hours and check the vehicle for compliance by examining the odometer reading and tire marker. |
| Can my neighbor always park his/her vehicle in front of my house? |
| Many of our calls for service are about this issue, and addressing them takes valuable time away from the time our Police Service Technicians could be addressing the blight caused by abandoned vehicles. |
| Anyone can park a vehicle on a public street as long as that person parks in accordance with the California Vehicle Code. Private property does not extend to the public street in front of one's home. |