City of Spokane considers adding employees to specifically deal with abandoned cars

June 22, 2022 7:30 PM

Posted: June 22, 2022 7:30 PM

Updated: June 22, 2022 9:02 PM

SPOKANE, Wash. – The city of Spokane is considering adding two employees to specifically deal with abandoned cars on the streets.

“I feel like people think that this is a good area to abandon their stolen vehicles, and it’s going to bring the crime rate up in the area,” said Michael Stamps, a concerned resident about abandoned vehicles.

Stamps, who lives in East Central Spokane, sees abandoned vehicles at least three or four times every month and worries about the safety of his family.

“Just abandoning a car straight up. Obviously, it’s stolen because there’s no nothing valued to them. Those types of people are roaming free while my kid is out here playing. It doesn’t go well with me,” Stamps said.

To deal with this matter, the city of Spokane and the Spokane Police Department want to add two workers specifically for this issue.

“Dedicating those two people will give them access to our databases to be able to look at things like… is the car stolen? is it registered?” said Julie Humphreys, Communications Director of the Spokane Police Department. “Things that police officers have the ability to do to dedicated employees with limited commission can do that.”

Humphreys says this will help free up police officers.

“That will help solve the problem…to keep your street clean and to keep it safe,” Humphrey said.

There are ways you can figure out if a car is abandoned. If the car hasn’t moved in days, that could be a sign. Another is if the car looks to be seriously damaged, or if it continues to collect dirt and dust.

“There’s a process with the city and we work closely with the Code Enforcement as well on that. There are some vehicles you leave them a notice to give them three-day notice to move that car,” Humphrey said.

If you see any illegally parked vehicles in your neighborhood, call 311.

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