Dumped car with valid tax
Discussion
Is there anything that can be done about a dumped car that still has valid tax?
There's an old Volvo that's been parked outside our office for 3 months now but it's tax doesn't expire until March next year! The sunroof's been left open so it gets a good soaking every time it rains. Do we have to wait for the tax to expire before we can contact the council? Last year an old Escort was parked outside for a similar time but the tax had expired. Council and DVLA didn't care so I don't hold up much hope if it's legally parked
(The Escort did eventually go, we recon it was nicked!).
There's an old Volvo that's been parked outside our office for 3 months now but it's tax doesn't expire until March next year! The sunroof's been left open so it gets a good soaking every time it rains. Do we have to wait for the tax to expire before we can contact the council? Last year an old Escort was parked outside for a similar time but the tax had expired. Council and DVLA didn't care so I don't hold up much hope if it's legally parked
(The Escort did eventually go, we recon it was nicked!).No, im sure you dont have to wait for the tax to expire, one of the guys in my house used to contract with a local council to remove abandonded vehicles, i think if its a suspected abandonded car on a public highway the local authority can slap a removal notice on it anytime for a variety of reasons, whether they will or not is another matter.
in my district in london (hounlsow) they dont touch them for mths and mths cos it costs em so much to dispose of them, i think they hope someone will nick them and save them the cost.
technically they can re-charge the registered owner for the privelege of having them remove the car he dumped but that depends on the car being registered in the name of the owner who dumped it, and id guess thats not too likely!
in my district in london (hounlsow) they dont touch them for mths and mths cos it costs em so much to dispose of them, i think they hope someone will nick them and save them the cost.
technically they can re-charge the registered owner for the privelege of having them remove the car he dumped but that depends on the car being registered in the name of the owner who dumped it, and id guess thats not too likely!
Report it as a fire risk. There was a nuts case recently where on a boiling hot day someone parked their escort and left a window slightly open to try and keep it bearable, returned 45 minutes later and the car had been towed and crushed as the window being open meant it was a fire risk!.
lanciachris said:
Report it as a fire risk. There was a nuts case recently where on a boiling hot day someone parked their escort and left a window slightly open to try and keep it bearable, returned 45 minutes later and the car had been towed and crushed as the window being open meant it was a fire risk!.
I guess convertibles are not too popular in that part of the world!
An ever increasing problem because EEC laws now say certain toxic substances (present in abandoned motor vehicles that are scrapped) can only be dumped at about 6 sites in England, hence LA's don't want the expense/hassle of moving cars.
Their responsibility to do so is at section 3 Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 which states where it appears to an LA that a mv has been abandoned without lawful authority on any land forming part of a highway or any land in the open air, it shall be the duty of the LA to remove the vehicle. MV is a mechanicaly propelled vehicle constructed or adapted for use on a road whether or not it is in a fit state for such use.
LA on receipt of such a report have to follow certain procedures under the act and Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986 by attempting to contact the owner to remove and/or affixing a notice to the vehicle. If not ascertained then down to 24 hours to effect removal.
Again if it is on a road and causing an obstruction Police can ask for it to be removed by owner or person in charge of vehicle. If Constable is of opinion that it has been abandoned as mentioned above, may remove or arrange removal to elsewhere off the road (Council pound) and recover removal fees from owner.
As stated above thumping the fire risk seems to get results.
In the meantime if it is on the highway try sending local Council Form 1 from the following Act: (scroll down to get it)
www.tinyurl.com/2mt93
it may just gee them up into action.
DVD
Their responsibility to do so is at section 3 Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 which states where it appears to an LA that a mv has been abandoned without lawful authority on any land forming part of a highway or any land in the open air, it shall be the duty of the LA to remove the vehicle. MV is a mechanicaly propelled vehicle constructed or adapted for use on a road whether or not it is in a fit state for such use.
LA on receipt of such a report have to follow certain procedures under the act and Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986 by attempting to contact the owner to remove and/or affixing a notice to the vehicle. If not ascertained then down to 24 hours to effect removal.
Again if it is on a road and causing an obstruction Police can ask for it to be removed by owner or person in charge of vehicle. If Constable is of opinion that it has been abandoned as mentioned above, may remove or arrange removal to elsewhere off the road (Council pound) and recover removal fees from owner.
As stated above thumping the fire risk seems to get results.
In the meantime if it is on the highway try sending local Council Form 1 from the following Act: (scroll down to get it)
www.tinyurl.com/2mt93
it may just gee them up into action.
DVD
Pop an oily rag half into the sunroof, and leave a box of matches next to it.
I reckon the Fire dept will get rid of it sharpish!
of course I would never condone such anti-social behaviour. I'm just suggesting the sort of thing that liberal, lentil eating 60's parents might let their offspring get away with. The sort of thing that has put this fine country in the situation it is in, and definitely not anything to do with the government, oh no guv'nor!
I reckon the Fire dept will get rid of it sharpish!
of course I would never condone such anti-social behaviour. I'm just suggesting the sort of thing that liberal, lentil eating 60's parents might let their offspring get away with. The sort of thing that has put this fine country in the situation it is in, and definitely not anything to do with the government, oh no guv'nor!
Thanks all for your suggestions. Trouble is the car is parked perfectly and not blocking anything. It only annoys me as it's parked right outside my office window (where an NSX normally parks 
). That also means torching it would be a bad idea!
Looks like another letter to the lovely council to see if they'll do anything.......
). That also means torching it would be a bad idea! Looks like another letter to the lovely council to see if they'll do anything.......
hansfree said:It might not be too likely, but the registered owner is responsible for the car, whether they think it's theirs or not. A registered car must be an almost guaranteed payday for the council.
technically they can re-charge the registered owner for the privelege of having them remove the car he dumped but that depends on the car being registered in the name of the owner who dumped it, and id guess thats not too likely!
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff