How to get cops to do their jobs?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
This is a serious question.

We have an abandoned car that is sitting outside our house (We live in an urban area). It's been sitting there for many many weeks. We called the traffic division probably 8 times, you can only leave messages and they have not once called me back

Twice it had intent to tow sticker put on it, the last was a couple of weeks ago. It hasn't been towed. We need some work done on the house next week and they need to park a truck in front.

I'll also mentioned that twice a month the police roll up and down our street at 6:30 in the am, telling on the PA residents have to move their cars for street cleaning, or we'll get ticketed and towed. However, they _still_ don't tow this car.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
It would be a shame if kids playing with matches,just happened to light it on fire.It wouldn't take long for them to tow it then,probably even if it just got vandalized.;)
 
often times it is parking enforcement that handles towing of abandoned vehicles, since it is a parking violation.

and parking violations are typically not high on the priority list for police. however, if you have an officer assigned to a community policing detail you would get further with him/her than by calling the area division.
 
Thanks, actually we do have a community policing detail. I'll check with them.
 
Don't know if it's different where you are, but that would be a Department of Sanitation problem here. Abandoned property is not ordinarily a police matter.

If it was an old washing machine would you expect the sector car to throw it in the trunk and haul it to the dump?

-And would you be posting here accusing the police of dereliction?

Same thing.

:thumbdn: :thumbdn:
 
If you can push it out into the middle of the street, blocking the street, maybe the police (or parking dept., or Fire Dept.) would do something about it then? Just thinking outside the box...
 
glockman99 said:
If you can push it out into the middle of the street, blocking the street, maybe the police (or parking dept., or Fire Dept.) would do something about it then? Just thinking outside the box...
Click to expand...

i would cite dave for littering, then make him move the car back.



;)
 
tortoise said:
Don't know if it's different where you are, but that would be a Department of Sanitation problem here. Abandoned property is not ordinarily a police matter.

If it was an old washing machine would you expect the sector car to throw it in the trunk and haul it to the dump?

-And would you be posting here accusing the police of dereliction?

Same thing.

:thumbdn: :thumbdn:
Click to expand...

that's interesting. i would never have though sanitation would be responsible.

here it would be parking enforcement, since it involves a motor vehicle and a parking violation. police have the authority to remove the vehicle, but would not normally handle this.

its time consuming, and the other side of the argument is: "why are you towing cars instead of fighting real crime?"

i think dave's choice of words for the thread title is unfortunate, however i also understand that while i would probably not spend my time towing an abandoned vehicle, i can certainly direct him to the people who do this sort of thing routinely.
 
Have you tried Codes Enforcement? The city I used to work for had a sworn police officer working for Codes who would ticket then tow abandoned vehicles.
 
Great idea -- start a fire in front of his own home! :D

If no one else listens, contact a local councilman.
 
There was something on TV not long ago about an abandoned car that was left in a neighborhood even after being reported and it turned out to belong to a missing person who was decaying dead in the trunk.

Ask to speak to missing persons and see if they are looking for anyone with a car matching that description.

STR
 
Go up the line. I've found that formal letters delivered to district commanders, heads of departments, city or county councilmen and the like will get way more results than a phone call or an e-mail message.
(though our local government guys seem responsive)
The local health department is a good bet as well. Tell 'em you see rats nesting.....
 
We have a 2 person parking and traffic department, that's what they do, three counting the meter maid. I think the ordinances here are either move a car in 24 or 36 hours.

Here's something I didn't think of, they aggressively ticket and tow citizens cars because they know people want their cars so they will pay. This makes sense now, because no one will pay the ticket and tow on an abandoned car so they won't bother towing it. It's basically doesn't generate them any revenue.

I know some of you are cops, I get it. I'm sure not all of you are bad. ;)
 
Go down to station in person. On a phone it is easy to be put off. Also if nothing is being done, local news channels sometimes have a consumer/nusiance complaint dept. They sometimes get the ball moving.

Paul
 
Actually at the going rate for junk at present,that's not a bad idea,junk yards in PA are paying $10.00/hundred,if it's something the size of a Chevy Cavalier,it's worth $250.00.Bigger car more cash,and I haven't seen any junk yards that need a title.
 
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