Q. Abandoned vehicles, what is the law?

Under Section 3 of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 Local authorities have a duty to remove any vehicle, which is abandoned in their constituency and is on public land. However this legislation does not cover irvehicles abandoned on private land. Under this Act, abandoning a vehicle is a criminal offence, carrying a maximum penalty fine of £2,500 or 3 months' imprisonment, or both.

Abandoned vehicles are anti-social and attract crime. Your Local council has a duty to remove all abandoned vehicles. Carcycle will be pleased to assist in the removal of abandoned vehicles that have been declared to the police and local authority assuming permission has been granted to do so. We can also remove abandoned vehicles on private land once permission has been sought with the land or property owner.

An abandoned vehicle could be a vehicle that has been left in the same place for a period of time and in a condition that suggests it is abandoned, evidence of this may include:

• Flat tyres
• Rusted brake discs
• Broken windows or other vandalism
• Build up of dirt & debris around the wheels.