IS AN UNTAXED VEHICLE ABANDONED? Not necessarily. The
Council, do not deal with untaxed vehicles. You should contact the
DVLA at Chelmsford. The Council has no powers to deal with untaxed
vehicles, which have not been abandoned.
DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF
ABANDONED VEHICLES? Yes. There are more and more abandoned
vehicles being reported every month. Many hours of Officers time is
being used dealing with the procedure of removal. Every year the
removal of abandoned vehicles costs the Council tax payer thousands
of pounds.
This Council removes around 50 vehicles per month. If you
witnessed or know the owner of a vehicle, which has been abandoned,
please let us know, so that we can recover some of the costs.
WHAT DOES A 'POLICE AWARE' STICKER ATTACHED TO A CAR
MEAN?
The Police affix such notices to vehicles that they would like
removed by the owner/keeper. If the vehicle is not moved and the
Police do not know of any owner, they will then normally arrange
for the vehicle to be removed.
WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL DO WHEN IT KNOWS OF AN ABANDONED
VEHICLE?
The Council will attach a Notice to the vehicle demanding the
owner to contact the Council within a given period. If after the
time no owner has claimed his or her vehicle, a second inspection
is made and the Council then has a legal duty to make all
reasonable enquiries to find out who owns or normally keeps the
vehicle.
The Council's contractor will be notified to tow the vehicle
away. After the enquiries have been completed and if the owner has
not claimed the vehicle, it will be dismantled for spare parts. The
remaining material will be sent for recycling.
WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL DO IF A VEHICLE IS ABANDONED ON
PRIVATE LAND AND NOT IN THE STREET?
The Council will start the legal procedure, only if the owner of
the private land requests the Council to do so in writing. The
Council generally deals with abandoned vehicles on the public
highway, i.e. in streets within the District.
WHAT ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST SOMEONE WHO ABANDONS
THEIR CAR?
Where evidence is obtained from DVLA or a witness, the owner
will be taken to Court and could face a fine up to £2,500.
VEHICLES ILLEGALLY, OBSTRUCTIVELY OR DANGEROUSLY
PARKED
Irrespective of whether a vehicle is taxed or not, these
vehicles must be reported to the police as they can arrange for
vehicles to be removed straight away.
AVOID BREAKING THE LAW WHEN SELLING YOUR
CAR
When you sell your vehicle, complete the blue part of the
registration document with the purchaser's name and address (the
purchaser should sign the declaration box to confirm these
details). Sign the declaration box yourself and send the blue part
only to DVLA Swansea.
Complete the green part with the purchaser's details and give it
to the new keeper.
Only complete the red part when selling to a member of the motor
trade.
Don't give the whole document to the buyer for them to complete
- you will only be leaving yourself open to problems at a later
date.
COUNCIL POLICY
To park your vehicle on council owned land you need your vehicle
to be taxed and insured. The Council will remove vehicles on their
land where they do not comply with the above.
REPORTING AN ABANDONED VEHICLE
Please
click here to report an abandoned vehicle on-line.
Alternatively you can call our Customer Service Centre on
01376 552525 or email
csc@braintree.gov.uk
It helps us if you can let us know the following
information before reporting a vehicle:
> Registration number
> Make and type of vehicle
> Date since apparent abandonment
> Location
> Condition of vehicle
> If it has a current road fund license