NCJ Number
118662
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 56 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1989) Pages: 26-29
Date Published
1989
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on the traffic hazards of abandoned vehicles and how the State of Washington is dealing with this issue.
Abstract
Since 1980, Washington State has experienced more than 3,000 collisions involving abandoned vehicles -- resulting in 40 deaths, 1,774 injuries and nearly $36 million in economic losses to the State. Law enforcement efforts to remove these vehicles have been hampered by the issue of property rights, weak impound legislation, and a general reluctance on the part of the courts and the public to recognize abandoned vehicles as serious traffic hazards. The prompt removal of abandoned vehicles is necessary in the interest of traffic safety but -- because it involves a tow bill for the vehicle's owner -- the issue has always been controversial. A 1987 study conducted by Washington State Patrol concluded that, without legislative support and more aggressive impound policies, court-imposed impound payments would increase; shoulder collisions would escalate due to increased traffic volumes; department liability would increase; and the problems would continue indefinitely.