PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

1 DIRECTIVE - 1 PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVE SUBJECT: ABANDONED VEHICLES 1. POLICY A. All abandoned vehicle information shall be recorded on an Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140). B. It is the primary responsibility of the Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) to process an abandoned vehicle as defined in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. They will be guided by the procedures outlined in this Directive. Vehicles that pose an imminent safety or health hazard, or are found to have a registration and an inspection sticker both of which are expired for a period exceeding 90 days, shall be removed immediately by the POLICE DEPARTMENT or by an authorized salvor. All other Districts/Unit POLICE officers will submit to the Neighborhood Services Unit a Complaint or Incident Report (75-48) for an Unoccupied Vehicle Investigation.

2 NOTE: Non- NSU personnel are required to obtain District Control (DC#) numbers when submitting a vehicle investigation 75-48 report to the Neighborhood Services Unit. C. By law, the owner of a vehicle, which has been identified as abandoned, has the right to a hearing to declare why the vehicle is not abandoned. To abide by this, each certified letter to the last known registered owner and/or lienholders on record will state, Any questions regarding the status of your vehicle should be directed to the Neighborhood Services Unit. This will constitute a hearing. 2. ON-LINE INCIDENT TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM A. The on-line computer Incident Transmittal System (INCT) is the computerized record of an initial complaint, incident, or offense (refer to Computer Training Bulletin 97-3).

3 All applicable information supplied on the 75-140 (paper copy) will be entered into the (INCT) 75-48 screen by the Operations Room Supervisor (ORS) or designee wherein the complaint or incident occurred or exists. District personnel must make any and all changes to the update screen within five (5) days of the reported incident. B. All personnel responsible for the integrity of the INCT will ensure that all entries are accurate and complete. Issued Date: 01-21-10 Effective Date: 01-21-10 Updated Date: DIRECTIVE - 2 3. DEFINITION OF AN ABANDONED VEHICLE A. Motor Vehicle: 1. One that is physically inoperable and is left unattended on a highway or other public property for more than forty-eight (48) hours. 2. Has remained illegally parked on a highway or other public property for a period of more than forty-eight (48) hours.

4 3. That is left unattended on or along a highway or other public property for more than forty-eight (48) hours and does not bear all of the following: a. Valid registration plate. b. A current certificate of inspection. c. An ascertainable vehicle identification number. 4. Has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than twenty-four (24) hours. 5. Is found to have a vehicle registration and inspection sticker, both of which are expired for a period exceeding ninety (90) days. B. Imminent Health and Safety Hazard 1. Any vehicle exhibiting any one or a combination of the following factors will be towed immediately: a. Fluid(s) leaking from the vehicle. b. Missing or broken windows. c. One or more missing tires or wheels ( , on milk crates, braces, etc.)

5 D. Missing or seriously damaged (jagged) body parts. e. Rodents and/or vermin present in or around the vehicle. f. Known and documented storage container for drugs or drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. g. Vehicle possesses readily apparent unsanitary conditions and/or excessive amount of refuse, garbage or debris. DIRECTIVE - 3 h. The vehicle presents a traffic hazard. 4. ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES FOR ABANDONED VEHICLES A. Neighborhood Services Unit (NSU) personnel observing or receiving a Complaint or Incident Report (75-48) for an apparent abandoned vehicle will: 1. Prepare an Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140). Under the Details Section, record the following information: a. The year, make, model and color of the vehicle. b. Vehicle registration number (license tag number) if available.

6 C. Vehicle identification number (manufacturer's serial number) if available. The Abandoned Vehicle Officer will search the known locations on the vehicle to determine this number. d. Condition of the vehicle (no wheels, engine missing, etc). NOTE: If the vehicle is an imminent safety or health hazard, record in the remarks section of the Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140) the specific factors. Refer to Section 2-B for indicators. e. Check the appropriate box for value of the vehicle. Refer to Appendix A for guidelines in determining value of vehicles. f. Ascertain the owner and/or lien holder through POLICE Radio and record the information on the Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140). g. Record the Salvor information on the Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140) when available.

7 EXCEPTION: If vehicle is an imminent safety or health hazard, contact an NSU supervisor for immediate removal by a privately contracted salvor. Otherwise, NSU operations personnel will assign a salvor. NOTE: Ensure that the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the registration number (license plate number) are correctly recorded when completing the Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140). DIRECTIVE - 4 h. The NSU officer will obtain Abandoned Vehicle District Control (DC#) numbers (UCR 3101) for the incident and record it on the Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140). NOTE: Non-NSU Personnel are required to obtain District Control (DC#) numbers when submitting an informational vehicle 75-48 report to the NSU for an investigation of an unoccupied vehicle.

8 I. If it is determined that the vehicle is listed as stolen, officers will follow the guidelines and procedures listed in Directive j. Give completed Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140) yellow copy to tow operator. k. Give the completed Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140) pink and gold copy to the Operations Room Supervisor of District of Occurrence. l. Give remaining copies of the Abandoned Vehicle Report (75-140) to the Neighborhood Services Unit Operations Room Supervisor. B. All Other District/Unit personnel observing a vehicle that meets the criteria of an abandoned vehicle will: 1. Request a NSU officer to meet them at their location. If a divisional NSU unit is not available have POLICE Radio notify a NSU supervisor. 2. If no NSU personnel are available prepare a Complaint or Incident report (75-48) and record the following: a.

9 The year, make, model and color of the vehicle. b. Vehicle Registration number (license tag) when available. c. Vehicle Identification Number if available. The officer will search known locations on the vehicle in an attempt to locate this number. d. Condition of the vehicle. NOTE: If it is determined by a patrol supervisor that the vehicle needs to be towed to a safer location the supervisor will notify POLICE Radio and request that POLICE Tow respond and relocate the vehicle. e. Record location on the Complaint or Incident Report (75-48) where POLICE Tow Squad relocated the vehicle. DIRECTIVE - 5 f. Ascertain the owner and/or lien holder through POLICE Radio and record all information (if available) on the Complaint or Incident report (75-48). g.

10 If it is determine that the vehicle is listed as stolen, the officer will follow the guidelines and procedures outlined in Directive h. Submit the completed Complaint or Incident report (75-48) to the Operations Room Supervisor (ORS) in the district of occurrence. C. POLICE Radio will: 1. Determine the owner of the vehicle if possible by making an inquiry of the CLEAN system using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) when available. 2. Relay all owner and/or lien holder information to the requesting officer. 3. Notify a NSU supervisor and request they contact a privately contracted salvor to remove the vehicle, relaying all pertinent information. 4. Notify the POLICE Tow Squad and request that the vehicle be removed when an NSU supervisor is unavailable and patrol supervisor determined the vehicle to be an imminent safety or health hazard.