Sunset Heights residents in El Paso, Texas, have grown accustomed to seeing abandoned vehicles sitting alongside homes. Despite calling 311 to complain, the City of El Paso has not taken action.
Abandoned Vehicles and the Law
Leaving a vehicle abandoned is illegal under Texas State law and El Paso municipal codes as a Class C Misdemeanor. The Texas Transportation code states that abandoning a vehicle on public or private property can result in a fine of up to $500.
Law enforcement agencies can take abandoned vehicles into custody and must send a notice of abandonment to the last known registered owner. The owner has the right to claim the vehicle within a certain time frame, at the expense of towing or storage charges.
Matthew Guzman, who leads the Friends of Sunset Heights Neighborhood Association, said, “I think the neighborhood is cognizant of the broken window theory and how run-down vehicles and dilapidated houses have a negative impact on a community.”
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
