§ 50–2421.04. Removal of abandoned and dangerous vehicles from public space; penalties.

(a) The District government, or any towing company at the direction of the Department shall remove an abandoned or dangerous vehicle parked, left, or stored on public space in violation of § 50-2421.03(1), as follows:

(1) An abandoned vehicle shall be removed 48 hours after a warning notice has been conspicuously placed on the vehicle. The warning notice shall be placed at the first sighting of a vehicle that meets the physical characteristics of an abandoned vehicle. The warning notice shall indicate the date and time it was placed and the date and time that the District is authorized to remove, impound, or dispose of the vehicle if the vehicle is not moved. The notice shall also include a statement indicating the vehicle will not be towed if the owner or other authorized person certifies to the Department that the vehicle is undergoing emergency repair. The notice shall provide a telephone number, and website if any, that will inform the owner how to accomplish the certification.

(2) A dangerous vehicle shall be immediately removed without the placement of a warning notice.

(b) If more than one basis exists for removing a vehicle, whether stated in this subchapter or in any other law or regulation, the shortest removal period shall apply, including removal without a warning notice.

(c) No vehicle shall be removed from public space pursuant to this section until a notice of infraction is conspicuously placed on the vehicle.

(d) Except as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person, except the owner, a person authorized by the owner in writing, an employee of the District government in connection with the performance of official duties, or a tow crane operator who has valid authorization from the District government, to do any of the following:

(1) Tamper with, remove, or attempt to tamper with or remove any vehicle owned by another person;

(2) Tamper with, remove, or attempt to tamper with or remove any vehicle that is on public space and to which a District government warning notice that relates to the removal of the vehicle has been affixed; or

(3) Remove, mutilate, or attempt to remove or mutilate the warning notice.

(e) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than $500.

(Oct. 28, 2003, D.C. Law 15-35, § 4, 50 DCR 6579; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 276(a), 60 DCR 2064; July 22, 2022, D.C. Law 24-144, § 2(c), 69 DCR 006261.)

Section References

This section is referenced in § 50-2402.

Effect of Amendments

The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-317 substituted “of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01” for “of not more than $500” in (e).

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) addition of this section, see § 4 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).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 276(a) of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-45, April 1, 2013, 60 DCR 5400, 20 DCSTAT 1300).

Editor's Notes

Applicability of D.C. Law 19-317: Section 401 of D.C. Law 19-317 provided that the act shall apply only to offenses committed on or after June 11, 2013.