§ 50–2402. Abandoned and Junk Vehicle Division established.

(a) There is established an Abandoned and Junk Vehicle Division of the Department of Public Works (“Abandoned and Junk Vehicle Division”), which shall be responsible for the removal of any abandoned or dangerous vehicle from any public or private property including any public space. The Abandoned and Junk Vehicle Division shall:

(1) Determine whether the vehicle is an abandoned or dangerous vehicle in accordance with § 50-2421.02;

(2) Determine whether the vehicle has been stolen and relinquish custody of the vehicle to the Metropolitan Police Department, if the vehicle has been stolen;

(3) Place or mail, as applicable, the appropriate warning notice described in §§ 50-2421.04 and 50-2421.05;

(4) Impound any abandoned or dangerous vehicle, if appropriate;

(5) Mail the impoundment notice required by § 50-2421.07(b) to the owner and lienholders of any impounded vehicle;

(6) Sell or dispose of unclaimed impounded vehicles, including all items of personal property left therein, pursuant to § 50-2421.10;

(7) Repealed; and

(8) Repealed.

(b) The Mayor shall use personnel who are charged with private or public space inspection, sanitation inspection, and traffic and parking enforcement responsibilities to investigate and place warning notices on abandoned and junk vehicles.

(c) The Mayor shall encourage all District government agencies and residents to identify and report abandoned and junk vehicles to the Abandoned and Junk Vehicle Division and shall, within 90 days of September 9, 1989, implement an educational campaign to accomplish this task.

(Sept. 9, 1989, D.C. Law 8-24, § 3, 36 DCR 4575; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-261, § 3003, 46 DCR 3142; Oct. 28, 2003, D.C. Law 15-35, § 13(c)(2), 50 DCR 6579.)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 40-832.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 50-331.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 15-35, in subsec. (a), substituted “any abandoned or dangerous vehicle” for “any abandoned or junk vehicle” and “space” for “highway” in the introductory paragraph, rewrote pars. (1), (3), (5), and (6), inserted “or dangerous” after “abandoned” in par. (4), and repealed pars. (7) and (8).

Cross References

Nuisance, abandoned vehicles, see § 6-804.

Regulation of taxicabs, vehicle impoundments, see § 50-331.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 13(c)(2) of the Removal and Disposition of Abandoned, Dangerous and Other Unlawfully Parked Vehicles Reform Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 15-104, June 20, 2003, 50 DCR 5534).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 13(c)(2) of Removal and Disposition of Abandoned and Other Unlawfully Parked Vehicles Reform Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-171, October 6, 2003, 50 DCR 9163).

Short Title

Short title: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 50-2401.

Effective Dates

Section 12 of D.C. Law 8-24 provided that the act shall take effect after a 30-day period of Congressional review following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council of the District of Columbia to override the veto) as provided in § 1-206.02(c)(1), and publication in either the District of Columbia Register, the District of Columbia Statutes-at-Large, or the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations; or by November 1, 1989, whichever occurs later. D.C. Law 8-24 was effective September 9, 1989.

Editor's Notes

Effect of repeal provisions: Section 14 of D.C. Law 15-35 provided: “Any repeal of a law or regulation by this act shall not invalidate any enforcement action, adjudication, or any other action made or taken pursuant to such law or regulation.”

Application of 15-35: Section 15 of D.C. Law 15-35 provided: “This act shall apply to all vehicles impounded after its effective date. This act shall also apply to all vehicles impounded prior to its effective date provided that notice is sent to the owners and lien holders in accordance with the provisions of subsections 7(b) or (c), as is applicable.”