Eureka Police Department press release:

 

At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mayor Susan Seaman recognized the Eureka Police Department’s Volunteer Vehicle Abatement Team for their extraordinary work since their conception on January 05, 2016. The Abatement Team is comprised of three volunteers who over the last three years have donated more than 3,400 hours of their time to EPD and the City of Eureka to address the blight and crime issues surrounding abandoned vehicles.

On February 12, 2019, the team towed their 1000th vehicle. While this is a staggering number of vehicles removed from our streets, it only accounts for a portion of the effect the team has in improving the quality of life for our community members. During the same time frame, 1,240 vehicles were “tagged” with warning stickers, resulting in the vehicle moving with voluntary compliance from the owner.

The team, while proactive in addressing issues, is mainly complaint driven. In three years they have received over 3,000 phone calls and emails concerning potential issues surrounding abandoned vehicles or parking issues that are in violation of the City of Eureka Municipal code. The team’s efforts have also led to the recovery of seven stolen vehicles, which were returned to their rightful owners.

 

Mayor Susan Seaman said, “Our police officers are required to serve a variety of safety and enforcement needs daily, and sometimes there simply isn’t enough time for everything. With the help of our abatement volunteers, EPD can more effectively help address the issue of blight in neighborhoods caused by abandoned vehicles. The work these volunteers do makes a difference.”

The abatement team works with the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team under the direction of Sergeant Rodrigo Sanchez. The team has faced an increase of aggressive and hostile interactions while performing their duties, both from vehicle owners and from the criminal element often associated with abandoned vehicles and especially motorhomes. Sgt. Sanchez and the POP Unit, along with other members of the department, provide a level of security for the team to operate and carry out the department’s mission.

The Eureka Police Department is currently exploring different avenues to address vehicle owners and businesses who willfully abandon or allow to become abandoned a vehicle within the City limits of Eureka. Abandoning a vehicle is a violation of both the Eureka Municipal Code and the California Vehicle Code. Additionally, the cost to have vehicles towed, destroyed and processed can be extremely high. Any criminal proceeding and or reimbursement of fees associated with an abandoned vehicle are the responsibility of the vehicle’s last registered owner.

We often find vehicles are sold and the proper transfer of ownership with the California Department of Motor Vehicles is never completed and the buyers never assume ownership. For more information on how to buy or sell a vehicle, refer to this link from the DMV: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/topbuysell

The men and women of the Eureka Police Department want to thank not only our Volunteer Vehicle Abatement Team for their incredible dedication and devotion to our department and city, but also all our volunteers, who daily give of themselves to make both our department and our city better. Volunteers do what they do, not for the recognition, but strictly for their love of their communities!