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Abandoned Vehicles

Procedures for Removing Abandoned Vehicles

 

  1. Notification of the presence of apparently abandoned vehicles is obtained from members of the public, public bodies such as Housing Associations, Councillors and through the observations made by Cleansing Services staff during the course of their routine duties. Please call 01389 738542/738725 to report an abandoned vehicle.
  2. Details of vehicles noted at this stage are the location, registration number, make of vehicle and its general condition.
  3. A Cleansing Officer will then visit the location to make a further assessment of the vehicle. This is normally on the same day as the notification is received, or the next working day depending on the time of notification. The vehicle is photographed on site, to provide evidence of the vehicle's condition, registration number etc.
  4. The Cleansing Officer will then carry out a vehicle search on the DVLA database link within the Cleansing Section Richmond Street Depot, Clydebank.
  5. If the vehicle search establishes "no registered keeper" the Cleansing Officer will return to the vehicle and apply a 24hour or 7 day removal notice.

    • 24 hr notice - this is actioned if the vehicle is of little value, i.e. burnt or in such a condition that it will be scrapped, or is being vandalised (This is determined solely by the Officer attending).
    • 7 day notice - this is actioned if the vehicle is considered to have a monetary value (This is determined solely by the Officer attending).
    • It is worth noting that 15-day notice applies to abandoned vehicles on private land. In this situation the Cleansing Officer delivers a 15 day notice to owner of the land, seeking the permission of the landowner to remove it.

  7. Where the DVLA search establishes a registered keeper the vehicle is not abandoned. A hard copy of the DVLA record is printed off and forwarded to the Police. The police thereafter attempt to trace the registered keeper. If all trace attempts are unsuccessful the police will write to the Council authorising removal of the vehicle.
  8. The Police have no timescale for this and the authorisation for removal is based on their operational priorities.
  9. The Council can only remove vehicles where it is established that there is no registered keeper.