Starting on November 12th, the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT) parking enforcement staff can order an automatic tow of any automobile with an obscured vehicle identification number (VIN) that is also missing both license plates. Last August, Portland City Council approved code updates that expanded tow authority to a larger group of city staff and added section “F” to City Code 16.30.220, making missing vehicle identification a tow without prior notice offense. Officials made this change, in part, to empower parking enforcement officers to quickly clear abandoned vehicles in violation of city code from the public right-of-way.
Oregon requires all registered vehicles to display a front and back license plate, with some exceptions that include mopeds and motorcycles that only need a rear plate. Additionally, cars and trucks need to display the VIN in a visible place, which manufacturers typically place on the driver’s side of the dashboard, where it meets the windshield, and people outside can easily read it through the glass. Removing license plates and blocking or removing the VIN could indicate that someone stole or intentionally abandoned a vehicle and is trying to hide its ownership. Requiring prior notice of a pending tow would give someone time to move it, avoiding citations or recovering a stolen vehicle. This recent City Code change, with the 22 new parking enforcement officers recently added to PBOT’s Parking Enforcement team, should increase the number of abandoned vehicles removed from city streets. Vehicles parked on private property are exempt from this enforcement.
People can report illegally parked vehicles in the public right-of-way by calling the Parking Enforcement Division at 503-823-5195. They are open weekdays from 6:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., Saturday from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., and Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. For off-hours reporting, PBOT recommends contacting Portland Police via the non-emergency number 503-823-3333. Anyone looking to recover their towed vehicle can contact Portland Police Auto Records at 503-823-0044 to locate it and learn how to get it back. The city offers a Towing Frequently Asked Questions page with information about the recovery process.
The increased speed in towing will likely clear more city-code-violating vehicles from the street, which could cause increased financial burdens on some vehicle owners. Consequentially, PBOT manages a towing hardship fund for victims of auto theft and people living on a low income. They can receive up to $300 towards retrieval of their towed and impounded vehicle. This faster tow policy is just one step towards removing out-of-compliance cars from the streets. Still, it has the potential to streamline the process for city employees and provide faster results for those reporting the vehicles.
Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.