Petaluma Police Fielding More Calls About Abandoned Vehicles

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police are fielding more and more complaints from residents about abandoned vehicles, boats and recreational vehicles on city streets, police said Wednesday. The complaints have increased in the past month as many vehicles are illegally parked, inoperative, unregistered and are missing engines.

Some vehicles have flat tires and are covered with debris or are leaking hazardous fluids, police said. Some people who live in recreational vehicles are dumping wastewater onto city streets and into storm drains, which is illegal and harmful to residents' health and the environment.

The Police Department's abandoned vehicle abatement officer and patrol officers are contacting occupants of the vehicles and advising the registered owners or occupants of violations and ways to comply with the law.

Officers also are providing information regarding shelter and other available resources, police said.

Many occupants, however refuse to comply with municipal and vehicle codes and move their vehicles to different locations in Petaluma to avoid detection and correcting the issues with their vehicles.

Police said the Petaluma Municipal Code prohibits a vehicle from being parked or left standing longer than 72 consecutive hours, and vehicles must be moved at least a half mile to comply with the code. Police said officers plan to issue parking citations or tow the vehicles.

Residents may report an abandoned vehicle by calling 707-778-4373 or visiting the police website at Cityofpetaluma.net/police/ce-complaint-form.html.

By Bay City News Service