Question re: Dumped Cars

[NiceCupOfTea]

What's the legal status of a car that's been dumped?

Somebody was asking about a dumped car in the Saab forum, wanting to get it towed and crushed. Now, irrespective of whether the car is running, there will be loads of good bits on it (not least the leather interior).

How would one go about saving those bits? Or is it just a case of turn up in the middle of the night with a socket set and an angle grinder?

[Cooperman]

NiceCupOfTea said:

What's the legal status of a car that's been dumped? Somebody was asking about a dumped car in the Saab forum, wanting to get it towed and crushed. Now, irrespective of whether the car is running, there will be loads of good bits on it (not least the leather interior). How would one go about saving those bits? Or is it just a case of turn up in the middle of the night with a socket set and an angle grinder?

Funny, but true story of the week:
Many years ago I was a student with a guy who had a Ford 10 (this was in 1960). One night, whilst on his way home, the Ford broke down and my buddy was able to coast into a lay-by on the A! at Hatfield.
He got out, torch in hand, opened the bonnet to try to fix it. Whilst re-wiring the ignition he felt the car move and discovered someone rying to jack up the rear wheels.
My buddy asked "what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"It's OK", came a voice from the back, "you have whatever you want off the engine, all I need are a couple of wheels".

[gone]

NiceCupOfTea said:

What's the legal status of a car that's been dumped? Somebody was asking about a dumped car in the Saab forum, wanting to get it towed and crushed. Now, irrespective of whether the car is running, there will be loads of good bits on it (not least the leather interior). How would one go about saving those bits? Or is it just a case of turn up in the middle of the night with a socket set and an angle grinder?

Turning up in the middle of the night with your tools is 'Going equipped for theft' (arrestable offence). If you take anything, it is theft!

It may be abandoned but it still belongs to someone. You have no right in law to help yourself to property which you have not got a legal right to take or permission to take from the owner.

If you want bits from it, you will have to find out where the local authority are going to take it for scrapping and then go to the yard with your tools!

[^Slider^]

Depends if the owner has abandoned the rights of ownership of the vehicle though.
Not something you can find out that easily and like gone said unless it can be proved, its theft from MV or going equipped.

Gareth

[Flat in Fifth]

Thread hijack (sorry)

Dear Mr NCoT,

a question that has been bothering me but are you in any way connected with this website? >>

www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/

Underpant toast

[Homer mode]
mmmmmmm Tunnocks Caramel wafers mmmmmmmmmmm
[/Homer]

rgds,

FiF



>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Tuesday 8th March 20:06

>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Tuesday 8th March 20:06

[NiceCupOfTea]

Flat in Fifth said:

Thread hijack (sorry) Dear Mr NCoT, a question that has been bothering me but are you in any way connected with this website? >> www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/ Underpant toast [Homer mode] mmmmmmm Tunnocks Caramel wafers mmmmmmmmmmm [/Homer] rgds, FiF >> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Tuesday 8th March 20:06 >> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Tuesday 8th March 20:06

No, nothing to do with, but when I was signing up for my account I was indeed enjoying a nice cup of tea and a sit down, and I have been a regular visitor to that site

gone, slider> rest assured I was not considering it! I was curious though, seems a crying shame to let all those good bits go to waste. So the correct procedure would be to inform police/authorities you want some bits off it, and then they'd just let you take a spanner to it in the yard?

[BliarOut]

Watch out if the owner has left it somewhere looking dumped, hoping it gets nicked. If you take bits off it, he could change his story and you could get reported and end up with a years conditional discharge....



Not that I learned this lesson the hard way when I was fourteen you understand

[^Slider^]

Well, in theory you could report to the police but also mention you would like to maybe buy the car or arrange for scrapping yourself. Then they could tell the RK that they have 3 choices.
1) remove the vehicle themselves
2) police will have it recovered at £100+ notes + storage charges.
3) you are happy to take the car on and dispose of it if he dont want it.

Cant hurt to try!

Gareth

[towman]

Stick a note on the screen for the recovery firm. They will only weigh it in for about £30, so may sell to you for a bit more (depends on how good the tyres are.)

[8Pack]

towman said:

Stick a note on the screen for the recovery firm. They will only weigh it in for about £30, so may sell to you for a bit more (depends on how good the tyres are.)

£30, That's not a bad price for a Ferarri Steve!

[towman]

Who said Ferrari? I thought it was a Saab!