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By Tillamook County Sheriff Joshua Brown
If you follow our social media pages, you’ve likely seen posts about abandoned vehicles, trespass sites, and illegal dumping. These posts often generate questions and comments. This three-part roll call is intended to explain, at a high level, how and why we handle these situations the way we do.
Every call we respond to is different and handled based on the specific circumstances involved. It isn’t possible to explain every scenario in a single post, but my hope is that this overview provides some insight into our decision-making process. These roll call releases will be shared over the next several days.
Part 1 – Abandoned Vehicles
It’s important to understand that abandoned vehicles, trespass sites, and illegal dump sites are all handled differently under the law. When you also factor in properties with accumulated garbage or inoperable vehicles, it becomes clear that no two situations are exactly the same.
When it comes to abandoned vehicles, the law requires that a vehicle be tagged for at least 24 hours before further enforcement action can be taken. You may notice some vehicles remain tagged for longer than that. In many cases, this is because we are working with the owner or responsible party to have the vehicle moved voluntarily. Taking that approach can significantly reduce towing, storage, and disposal costs to taxpayers. Another practical consideration is whether we have available space to store the vehicle once it is towed.
Once a vehicle is towed as abandoned, it must be held for a legally required period of time. If the vehicle is an RV, additional steps are required, including an asbestos inspection. If asbestos is found, mitigation must occur before the RV can be destroyed. Each of these steps carries a cost and also requires deputies to spend time away from patrol or other calls for service.
My responsibility as Sheriff is to balance public safety, community livability, deputy availability, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. I understand that delays can be frustrating, but hopefully these requirements help explain why removal does not always happen as quickly as people would like.
Part 2 of this series will address trespass sites and illegal dumping.