A vehicle (eg car, truck, trailer etc) may be considered abandoned if:
- it is parked on a public roadway and
- it has been there for an unusual length of time, and
- the owner cannot be located, and / or
- it has a derelict appearance
Gisborne District Council has no authority over vehicles abandoned on private property. For vehicles on public property:
Before a vehicle is declared to be legally abandoned, reasonable attempts are made to contact the owner and identify their interest in the vehicle. Where possible the last registered owner is contacted by letter and given 14 days to reply. Properties in the vicinity of the vehicle will be contacted to identify the owner. Council also liaises with the Police to determine whether the vehicle has been stolen. If it has, the Police will notify the owner and the investigation will be put on hold.
If the owner is identified, they are required to relocate the vehicle to private property (at their expense) and pay any parking tickets that have been issued. This process can take some time, usually around 21 days because of the legal nature of the investigation.
During investigation, the vehicle will be left where it is, as long as it does not compromise road safety or obstruct a vehicle entrance. A notice may be placed on the vehicle advising the owner to contact a representative of Gisborne District Council.
If an abandoned vehicle is illegally parked or causing a safety hazard, arrangements are made for it to be towed to safe storage. If a vehicle is considered to be a safety hazard it will be moved as soon as possible or placed in safer position (this may mean placing it on a grassed verge or simply moving it along the road). Vehicles considered a safety hazard include vehicles parked:
- on yellow lines
- obstructing entrances
- in permit holders only spaces without a permit
- dangerously
- on footpaths or cycle paths
- between clearway signs
- illegally on a bus stop
- all day on a "P" restriction and causing an obstruction
You can contact us to report an abandoned vehicle. To ensure we can resolve the problem as soon as possible, please have as much of the following information available as you can:
- Where is the vehicle located?
- What is the vehicle's make, model, colour and registration number?
- How long has the vehicle been there?
- Do you know the name of the vehicle's owner?
- Do you have the registration of the vehicle that towed it there?
You can reclaim your abandoned vehicle if it has been towed, but before the vehicle can be released you need to:
- Pay a minimum fee of $120 ($55 investigation fee and $65 minimum towing fee) at Gisborne District Council Admin building, Fitzherbert Street, Gisborne. You will need to provide receipt of payment and proof of ownership of the vehicle with suitable identification.
- Arrangements will then be made with you to uplift the vehicle from impoundment.