Search » Advanced

Abandoned vehicles growing problem in Bozeman

By WALT WILLIAMS Chronicle Staff Writer

Abandoned vehicles don't belong on the street, but evidently that's a message more and more people are either not getting or just ignoring.


 Already complaints of abandoned vehicles are up this year. The Bozeman Police Department has handled 175 complaints of unmoved cars, trucks or other vehicles for a total of roughly 70 per month.

The average was 65 per month last year.

The increase may be due to the heavy snows of the first two months, which make unmoved vehicles all the more obvious when they're buried under a mountain of snow.

Still, it's a trend Deputy Police Chief Mark Lachapelle said his department has seen rise in recent years.

"We can't be using the city streets or parking lots as long-term parking," he said.

Bozeman's abandoned vehicle law prohibits any vehicle from sitting in the same place for more than five days.

It doesn't matter what condition the vehicle is in and it doesn't matter what excuses the owner has: If it hasn't moved, it will be ticketed.

Fines start out at $25 for the first violation and go up from there. If the vehicle has to be towed, it's towed at the owner's expense.

Lachapelle said the police department only has two or three officers at any one time to look for abandoned vehicles.

"I would say the majority of complaints are from the public," he said.

Another source of complaints comes from city road crews, who must maneuver around abandoned vehicles to plow snow and clean streets.

"It's just one thing you have to slow down for," Director of Public Services Debbie Arkell said. "You don't get the job totally done."

Of course, people take vacations, and in those cases Lachapelle recommended they make arrangements to have their vehicle moved while away to avoid a ticket. It must be obvious to the officer the vehicle has moved, he said.

Also, Gallatin County has a program where owners can dispose of junk vehicles for free. Under state law, a "junk vehicle" is defined as one that's inoperable, not currently licensed and in public view.

Contact the Gallatin County Road Department at 582-3260 for more information.

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of The Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Please read our Online Users Agreement.
You must register with a valid e-mail to post comments on BozemanDailyChronicle.com. Only your Member ID will be posted with your comments. Posts that violate our Online User Agreement will be edited or removed.

Login:

Become a Registered User

Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
E-mail Address:
Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Web site:
 

Printer friendly version Subscribe