Have you noticed a parked car in your neighborhood that has not moved for several days? If the car gets an orange tag placed on the driver side window or rear windshield, it has been brought to the attention of local authorities as an abandoned vehicle. A car is considered to be abandoned if it has not moved from its location and is considered unsightly and a potential safety issue if left in one place without explanation.
The orange tag placed on questionable vehicles is a message from local law enforcement. Here’s what you need to know if you find an orange tag has been placed on your car.
What Does an Orange Tag on a Car Mean?
An orange violation sticker placed on a car window means the local law enforcement in the area has investigated and deemed a car to be “abandoned.” Once the car has been tagged by law enforcement, there is a grace period of approximately 10 days in most states before the vehicle is towed away.
In cases where the vehicle has already been towed from the original location, a person will need to locate where it has been impounded and satisfy outstanding fees before it will be released.
What Is an Abandoned Car?
An abandoned car is any vehicle left unattended on a property for an extended period of time outlined by state and city rules. A vehicle can also be tagged as abandoned if it’s been parked on private property without the property owner’s permission. Vehicles flagged as owing unpaid bills can also be tagged.
The policies surrounding abandoned cars are in place to prevent fire hazards, unattractive nuisance situations and cases where an abandoned car may be a hazard to the health and safety of others.
How Long Do You Have Before a Car Is Considered Abandoned?
The general outline for how long a car is in a location before it is considered abandoned varies according to local and state laws. For example, a vehicle that is suspected of being abandoned may be reported if it is on public property or a vacant lot for as little as 24 hours in some cities, while other areas consider cars abandoned after 96 hours.
How Do I Report an Abandoned Car?
A car that is thought to be abandoned falls under the laws and jurisdiction of the location where it is reported. To make a report for an abandoned vehicle, contact your local police or sheriff’s department to ask about procedures in the city, town or village in the state where the car is located. Provide as much information as possible to assist in the reporting process.
- Include the exact location of the vehicle with an address and other location information.
- Provide the color, make and model of the vehicle along with the license plate number.
- Give an estimate of how long the vehicle has been in the location.
- Include information about whether the car is located on public or private property.
In most cities and towns, reports for abandoned vehicles can be made by calling the local police non-emergency contact number or by filling out a convenient online form on a police precinct website.
The owner of the vehicle will be responsible for all towing fees.
What To Do If My Car Is Reported As Abandoned?
If you find an orange sticker on your car, it usually means that local authorities consider your vehicle abandoned or violating parking laws. Read the details on the sticker to see if it has been issued for outstanding tickets, bills, potential fines and a deadline to address the issues.
Once you determine why your car was tagged, contact your local police department immediately to get the information you need to avoid having the vehicle towed.
Any issues must be addressed in the indicated timeframe or the car will be towed. The sticker may give you a time limit, such as 48 hours, to fix the issue or move the vehicle. If the issues for the car with an orange tag are not taken care of in the time allowed, it may be impounded.
The post If You See an Orange Tag on a Car, Here’s What It Means appeared first on Family Handyman.
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