G.O. 5.21 - Abandoned Motor Vehicles

Establishes standardized guidelines for Norwich Police Department (NPD) personnel when dealing with abandoned motor vehicles (AMVs).
Ensures compliance with Connecticut General Statute (C.G.S.) § 14-150, thereby minimizing civil liability and safeguarding public safety.
Reinforces that violations of this General Order (GO) lead only to departmental discipline; civil or criminal penalties derive from statutory law, not the order itself.

NPD will process and dispose of every motor vehicle deemed "abandoned" on public or private property according to the procedures in this GO and C.G.S. § 14-150.
Vehicles constituting an immediate traffic or safety hazard can be removed without the standard 24-hour waiting period.
NPD involvement begins upon a complaint by the owner, owner’s lawful agent, or lessee of the affected property.

Intentionally Abandoned Motor Vehicles
- Stripped or partially stripped; no/invalid plates; or damaged to the point of being a public nuisance.
- Left with no intent of removal.
Unintentionally Abandoned Motor Vehicles
- Disabled by mechanical failure, blocking snow removal, traffic flow, or illegally parked when the operator cannot be located.
Accident-Related Vehicles
- Inoperable due to collisions.
Unregistered Motor Vehicles
- Not registered per motor-vehicle statutes; often involve $\text{C.G.S. } 14\text{-147}$ (Misuse of Plates) or $\text{C.G.S. }14\text{-12a}$ (Operating Unregistered MV).
Abandoned Motor Vehicle Officer (AMV Officer)
- Officer designated by the Chief of Police to investigate and manage AMV issues.

Abandonment for > $24$ hours on any highway or non-owner property (without consent) is an infraction (C.G.S. § 14-150(a)).
"Last owner of record" in DMV files is presumed the person who abandoned the vehicle.
Immediate removal allowed if the AMV is a traffic/public-health hazard—no $24$ -hour wait.
Private-property AMV complaints must be investigated before telling the owner it is strictly a civil matter.
If a tenant owns the vehicle or had permission to leave it, the situation is civil; NPD action ceases and the property owner must pursue civil remedies.

Have complaining party complete "Request for Inspection of Abandoned Motor Vehicle – Private Property."
Run registration and stolen-vehicle checks; tow immediately if stolen.
Generate a case number and preliminary report; forward to AMV Officer.
Affix an NPD AMV notification sticker in a conspicuous spot; include case number.
Attempt to contact last registered owner; advise that towing occurs after $24$ hours if not removed.

Verify case meets AMV criteria; if not, advise property owner of self-removal duty under C.G.S. § 14-145.
Issue H-109 form to property owner.
Complete Case Incident Report including:
- Date/time sticker affixed.
- Year, make, model, color, registration or VIN.
- Vehicle condition and exact location.
- Notification status of the vehicle owner (and why not notified, if applicable).
Arrange tow per C.G.S. § 14-150; only Boyd’s Auto or Kleemann’s Auto may tow via H-109.
Notify vehicle owner (if known) by registered mail re: tow and next steps.
File all statutory/departmental paperwork (H-109 to tow company and DMV).
Take enforcement (e.g., infraction ticket) against last registered owner when possible.
Ensure Records Division logs every officer-initiated removal, storage, or tow.

No AMV tows on Fridays, Saturdays, or the day before a holiday. Rationale: administrative offices are closed, delaying mandatory notifications.
Officer must finish the full police report before end of shift on tow day.
Prior to tow: complete motor-vehicle inventory and photograph vehicle (per Motor Vehicle Inventory directive).
If circumstances stop an officer or Records Division from finishing required paperwork/notification the same or next day, the vehicle must not be towed.
Post-tow, officer completes H-114 form.
Tow selection:
- Meets H-109 prerequisites → Boyd’s or Kleemann’s.
- Does not meet H-109 → next rotational wrecker on NPD list.

Owner may challenge legality of the tow via DMV form A-25.
Filing deadline: $10$ days from owner’s receipt of tow notification.
Hearings conducted by DMV-designated hearing officer; A-25 forms available at NPD HQ.

H-109 – Authorization / notification of abandoned-vehicle tow (property-owner copy, tow-operator copy, DMV copy, NPD file copy).
H-114 – Post-tow documentation (completed by towing officer).
Request for Inspection of Abandoned Motor Vehicle – Private Property – Initial complaint form.
DMV A-25 – Owner’s appeal form.
All paperwork retained by Records Division; provides evidentiary chain and protects against liability.

C.G.S. § 14-150: Core authority to remove AMVs; details infractions, owner liability, notice requirements.
C.G.S. § 14-145: Property owner’s independent right to remove non-AMV vehicles parked without consent.
C.G.S. § 14-147 & § 14-12a: Related offenses concerning misuse of plates and operating unregistered vehicles—often discovered during AMV investigations.
Department accreditation reference: Standard 2.5.18 a, c—requires agencies to have written directives on towing and motor-vehicle inventories.

Swift removal of hazardous AMVs safeguards motorists and pedestrians.
Clear due-process (notification & appeal) protects owners’ property rights, avoiding unlawful seizure claims ( $4\text{th}$ Amendment).
Restricting weekend/holiday tows balances enforcement with fairness—ensures owners can timely contest or retrieve vehicles.
Thorough documentation and photographs mitigate departmental liability by proving legal compliance.

Integrates with existing Motor Vehicle Inventory Policy (search & asset protection while in police custody).
Supports community-policing goals: removes neighborhood blight, fosters positive relations with property owners.
Cross-references GO 5.x series on Patrol Functions, evidencing holistic patrol procedures (traffic control, accident response, parking enforcement, etc.).