(Washington, DC) The District’s monthly abandoned vehicle auction, scheduled for August 16, has been cancelled. The auctions are normally held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Blue Plains Storage and Auction Facility at 5001 Shepherd Parkway, SW. The next abandoned vehicle auction is scheduled for September 19.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) decided to cancel tomorrow’s auction due to the disruption in services at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), particularly at DMV’s K Street, NE, facility. Officials agreed that the building’s closure, due to air conditioning and other problems this month, may have kept some vehicle owners from being able to pay the fines and fees necessary to reclaim their cars.

The DC Municipal Regulations state that any impounded vehicle that remains unclaimed for 28 days after notification of the last known owner becomes the property of the District and can be sold or disposed of as scrap. All fines for parking and moving violations, as well as fees for towing and storage, must be paid before an “abandoned” vehicle can be released to its owner.