Bill to remove abandoned, derelict vehicles filed

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker is pushing for the removal of abandoned or derelict motor vehicles on roads and highways, saying these obstruct the free flow of traffic.

AGRI party-list Rep. Delphine Gan Lee made the proposal in House Bill 5249, to be known as Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act of 2014, which seeks to govern abandoned and derelict motor vehicles.

“Abandoned and derelict motor vehicles are nuisances. They obstruct the free flow of traffic on the street on which they lay abandoned. They prevent the free ingress and egress of real property owners where they are left unattended in front of driveways and gates. They prevent the free use of real property when they are dumped and abandoned on the same. They are a source of lost income to automobile repair, towing and storage facilities when their owners abscond,” she said.

There are several definitions of the term “abandoned motor vehicle,” one of which is a vehicle that is unclaimed within 30 days after being left with an automotive dealer or repair shop.

A motor vehicle is also considered an abandoned motor vehicle if it has been lawfully towed to a storage facility at the request of a law enforcer and left there for a period of not less than 30 days without anyone having paid all reasonable current charges for towing and storage.

Unattended

For a motor vehicle to be considered “derelict,” the bill states that it should have been left unattended on private property for not less than two days or for not less than three days if left unattended on public property without the driver making any attempt to recover such vehicle.

It shall also include any motor vehicle which, if a conspicuous note was left, has been left unattended for not less than five days and if the vehicle is damaged to the extent that its restoration to an operable condition would require the replacement of one or more major component parts or involves any structural damage that would affect the safety of the vehicle.

Under the bill, it shall be the duty of the peace officer who discovers an abandoned motor vehicle to immediately inspect it.

Any peace officer who finds a motor vehicle unattended for at least five days shall be authorized to have the motor vehicle taken to a garage if he reasonably believes that the person who left the motor vehicle unattended does not intend to return.

Any person who or facility that legally tows, transports, or stores any motor vehicle shall have a possessory lien on the vehicle, according to the bill.