Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.18 Traffic Ancillary Services
4.18.10 Abandoned Vehicles (Issued: 6/25/07)
A. Officers have the authority and the responsibility to ensure the safe and efficient flow of vehicular
traffic within their jurisdiction. This sometimes requires that vehicles be removed or towed to a
place of safety. An officer who finds that a vehicle is left unattended upon a street/highway in
violation of any of the City Ordinances or California Vehicle Code that constitutes a definite
hazard or obstruction to the normal movement of traffic, is authorized to move/tow the vehicle or
require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move/tow it to a position off the
roadway.
B. Vehicles parked on the public street in the same place in excess of 72 hours will be treated as
“abandoned vehicles.” The following procedure will be followed:
1. A police officer will be dispatched to process abandoned vehicle complaints.
2. The officer shall verify the license and VIN number of the vehicle to determine it is not
stolen.
3. The officer will attempt to locate and contact the owner and have them remove the
vehicle.
4. The officer shall place a 72 Hour Notice of Removal Form fastened to the windshield of
the vehicle.
5. If after 72 hours the assigned follow -up office r determines that the vehicle has been
moved, he/she shall advise the Emergency Communication Center Dispatcher to list this
information under the originally assigned “Incident Number”. The 72 -Hour Notice will
then be filed in the ECC.
6. If the register ed owner or person in charge of the vehicle cannot be located and the
vehicle has not been moved, the vehicle shall be cited using the appropriate section of the
City Traffic Ordinance (TC37(a)). SFPD Form 59 may be used for posting abandoned
vehicles on public streets. UCPD 72 -Hour Form may be posted on vehicles parked on
State/University property.
7. After towing the vehicle, the officer will complete and submit the Abandoned Vehicle
form via their Supervisor to Records no later than the end of their cu rrent shift. The
officer will clear the call and use the original case number to complete the Case Report
and Vehicle Tow Form.
8. Records will complete the post -tow letter process as per CVC 22852.