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1. How do I get my vehicle back after it has been abated?

To recover an abated vehicle from a tow agency, you must first acquire a vehicle release from the Marina Police department. The requirements for obtaining a vehicle release are:

• The vehicle registration must be current
  
• If the registration is not current, a moving permit must be obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles prior to requesting a vehicle release

The vehicle will only be released to the registered owner. The registered owner must posses a valid driver’s license or identification card. If the register owner does not possess a valid driver’s license, he/she must be accompanied by a licensed driver.

There is a $65 vehicle release fee. The fee must be paid in cash. This is a departmental fee and does not require any fees you will be required to pay the towing agency.

2. I reported an abandoned vehicle several times, so why has it not been removed?

An abatement process must be adhered to in order to ensure the legal removal of a vehicle. On average, the abatement process takes a minimum of fifteen business days to complete. Once a vehicle has been moved, it is no longer considered abandoned and the abatement process ends. The abatement process will have to be restarted based on a new complaint.

3. My neighbors always park their vehicles in front of my house. What can I do?

Generally, city streets, including those in residential areas, are public property. Unless the vehicle is blocking access to your driveway or it is determined that the vehicle is has been parked there for over 72 consecutive hours, the vehicle is legally parked and can not be cited or towed.

4. How do I retrieve property from a vehicle that has been abated?

To recover property from an abated vehicle, you must provide the towing agency with a property release. The requirements for obtaining a property release from the Marina Police department are:

• You must be the registered owner of the vehicle and posses a valid identification with your picture.


• No fee is charged for a property release.


• Only personal property can be removed. Items such as car stereos/speakers and other auto parts may not be removed.

5. Why are there marks on my vehicle’s tire?

Offices will mark a tire in order to ensure that a vehicle is being driven and not stored on a public street. A tire is marked when a citizen complaint is received or the vehicle appears to have been parked in the same location for over 72 hours. If the vehicle is moved within 72 hours after the tire was marked, no citation will be issued and the vehicle abatement process will not be continued.