Gulfport, MS Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 6-453(a) gives the Gulfport Police Department, and any municipal law enforcement officer assigned to traffic duty, authority to tow a vehicle under two different timelines depending on its condition. ' An unlicensed vehicle, or one with expired tags, gets no such grace period if it is illegally parked in a public parking facility the city provides. Neither timeline applies where the vehicle 'creates or constitutes a traffic hazard, public safety concern, blocks the use of a fire hydrant or obstructs or may obstruct the movement of any emergency vehicle,' in which case towing is immediate.

The same subsection separately authorizes immediate removal of an abandoned mobile home or oversized load from a public street or public property, without any waiting period at all. A towed vehicle goes to 'the nearest garage or other place of safety,' typically a police-designated impound lot or a commercial towing service's own facility within city limits, and the vehicle owner is responsible for all towing, storage and related costs. Subsection (b) requires the towing officer to give the owner written notice within five days of the tow if the owner's identity can be determined from the vehicle's registration, unless the vehicle is redeemed first; subsection (c) requires the officer instead to notify the state vehicle-registration department by mail if the owner cannot be identified or the vehicle remains unclaimed after five days, including a full description, and the date, time, place and reason for the removal.