Elizabeth Orosco
Northeast News

The Kansas City Police Department conducted a large-scale tow sweep Friday, November 16, removing cars that appear to have been abandoned off public streets. The Department’s Traffic Unit, Impact Squad and East Patrol CIO’s were all involved in the operation.

The sweep covered the area north to south from Gladstone Boulevard to 31st Street, and east to west from Topping Avenue to Prospect.

A total of 258 cars had been chalked and tagged for removal. Once the sweep concluded, 54 vehicles had been towed away. In the process, KCPD officers located three stolen cars.

These abandoned vehicles can cause major traffic issues along already narrow streets, often times not allowing enough space for two cars to pass through at once. Pedestrians are also at risk of not being seen if attempting to cross the street between so many vehicles.

Tuesday, November 13, officers placed a yellow “abandoned vehicle check” sticker on vehicles in this area that appeared abandoned, giving owners a 48-hour window to move them from the street. White chalk marks were also placed on tires.

This sticker included a time and date in which the vehicle was tagged, a phone number to call for more information, a translation option for residents who do not primarily speak English, and the City Ordinance No. 70-641, which states “no person shall abandon a motor vehicle or other personal property upon the streets or highways of this city.”
Factors such as accumulated debris or complaints from residents helped them determine which vehicles had been sitting for a while.

Rachel Hakes, Parking Control Officer of the Traffic Enforcement Unit said there seemed to be some confusion about what “abandoned” means.

“If you are going to own a vehicle and keep it on a public street, we all need to know what those laws are,” she said.
Many of those vehicles remained in the exact same spot Friday. Once officers verified it had not been moved, a ticket was issued and the cars were quickly towed.

Resident’s whose vehicles were taken may be looking at a hefty price tag. Owners will be responsible for all fees associated with the tow, removing it from the city tow lot, as well as paying the traffic ticket.

Many residents expressed frustration with the entire process, claiming their cars were not abandoned, were properly tagged, and were sitting in front of their home. Several homes in the area do not have access to off-street parking. One resident said he did not understand why his car received a sticker in the first place.

According to Hakes, if a vehicle is parked on a public street and does not move for over two days, even if it is parked in front of the owner’s home, it could be considered abandoned.

To avoid possible towing issues, she advised owners to either move the vehicle every few days or onto private property, and to make sure the vehicle is in proper running condition with up-to-date tags.

“I just want everyone to be safe,” said Hakes. “That’s my goal.”

All the vehicles that were towed will be taken to the city tow lot. Hakes advises those who need to retrieve their vehicles to call the tow lot first to verify what documentation and payment is required to get the vehicles back.