A crackdown on abandoned cars can be great business for restorers looking to make money from the car – but the odds are not good.
One driver said the chances of finding a car worth restoring and selling would be better in a casino.
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In April, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced a frantic effort to remove abandoned vehicles from city streets to improve traffic, increase property values and reduce health risks for visitors and residents.
However, Duggan and the city’s police department made it clear that the goal was not to take away citizens’ belongings, but to remove abandoned vehicles.
Shortly afterwards, a task force of 20 parking attendants and 12 law enforcement officers was put together to track down and punish unregistered, badly damaged or non-roadworthy vehicles.
“We are confiscating some vehicles that are illegally parked on this property,” police Captain Jason Adams told FOX affiliate WJBK.
Read more about raids
“The goal is not to confiscate vehicles. The goal is to improve the area to combat decay.”
After the rigorous crackdown was announced, the police detained more than 4,500 people within four months.
Part of the increased efforts was aimed at enforcing often ignored parking regulations, such as parking and parking of commercial vehicles.
“You are not allowed to park your cars on lawns. … You are not allowed to park your commercial vehicles in our neighborhood,” Duggan said.
“You can’t put your entire fleet of commercial vehicles in our neighborhoods. You can’t put semi-trucks in your neighborhoods.”
City data showed that 85 percent of the 5,200 cars ticketed were driven by the registered owner.
However, a different fate awaited those who were not there.
Many were sold to scrap yards as scrap metal.
Those that are more likely to be repaired and resold are sent to a vehicle auction where buyers can try their luck.
Vehicles offered for auction have different prices as the starting price includes towing and storage fees.
Some people can get a decent car for the city’s $100 towing fee, while other cars have fees so high relative to their condition that it’s not worth it.
Tony Nastasi, a regular visitor to the city’s auction centers, says the odds of winning are very similar to those of the players.
How to report an abandoned car
Reporting an abandoned vehicle is important to keep city streets safe and clean
An abandoned car is not only an eyesore, but also a danger to the surrounding population, as pests and rodents can find shelter in the interior, engine compartment or trunk.
Leakage can pose a threat to the environment, as many vehicle fluids are toxic and can have devastating effects on ecosystems if they enter waterways.
They can also encourage crime. Several cities, such as Oakland, California, report use by drug dealers to hide and smuggle drugs or weapons.
Abandoned vehicles can also reduce the value of a property.
Therefore, they are worth it. The exact contact information for the abandoned car hotline in your city may be different, but the information required about the vehicle is the same.
When the police report an abandoned vehicle, they need:
- The exact address of the vehicle
- Information about the steering column (broken, missing, intact, etc.)
- Condition of the vehicle (severe damage, broken windows, leaking fluids, missing body panels or doors, etc.)
- Make and model
- Color
- Body style (pickup, SUV, sedan, etc.)
- License plate and country if applicable
- Chassis number
In many cities, residents can report abandoned vehicles online using an online form or by phone.
Source: ABC subsidiary WPVI-TV
“Never buy a car here. You’ll have better chances at the casino,” he told the Detroit Free Press.
“And we don’t win much at the casino.”
He owns an auto parts store and has only found a car worth restoring a few times.
Most cars are in such bad condition that they are not worth the cost.
