Abandoned Vehicles DPW's Abandoned Vehicle Operation is charged with removing abandoned and dangerous vehicles from public and private properties within the District of Columbia. A vehicle of any kind is considered abandoned when it exhibits at least two of the following characteristics, in any combination: the vehicle is extensively damaged (wrecked, burned out, etc.) the vehicle is apparently inoperable (no engine, missing tires, etc.) the vehicle serves as harborage for rats, vermin and other pests the vehicle does not display valid tags or a valid registration sticker A dangerous vehicle is any vehicle that poses an imminent hazard to the public health, safety or welfare. DPW tows abandoned cars, large SUVs, boats, trailers, motorcycles, burned-out hulks, and even full-sized mobile homes daily. These vehicles may be located on a District street, in a parking garage, in the front yard of a boarded-up house, upside down in a ditch, or wedged in an alley. Note that DPW has authority to remove abandoned vehicles from private property. Many of these vehicles require special equipment to pull them out of these areas and tow them to the city's Blue Plains Storage and Auction Facility on 5001 Shepherd Parkway, SW. Some circumstances, such as the discovery that the vehicle has been reported stolen, or that the abandoned vehicle is on private property, require specific legal processing before actual removal is possible. After receiving a service request from the Citywide Call Center regarding a suspect vehicle, a DPW investigator may post a warning notice on the vehicle, if it is abandoned, stating that the owner must remove it within the next 24 hours. Should the vehicle remain after 24 hours, DPW will remove and tow it to the storage and auction facility.  If the vehicle is determined to be dangerous by DPW staff, the investigator will have the vehicle towed immediately. Any vehicle parked on public space without valid license plates, or registration and inspection stickers, can be ticketed and towed from the street immediately. Page 1 of 2      1  2