Merced, CA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

The City of Merced enforces abandoned-vehicle rules through the Police Department's Parking Enforcement Unit, which the city states 'also handles abandoned vehicles as well as oversize vehicles parked in your neighborhood.' The operative time standard comes from the California Vehicle Code: under CVC 22651(k), a vehicle parked or left standing upon a highway 'for 72 or more consecutive hours in violation of a local ordinance authorizing removal' may be removed. The city cites this exact subdivision on its own recreational-vehicle penalty notice, confirming the 72-hour benchmark for towing. A separate state authority, CVC 22651(o), allows removal of a vehicle whose registration has been expired for more than six months. Residents report suspected abandoned or broken-down vehicles to the Police Department's non-emergency dispatch or through the Merced Connect app; inoperable vehicles and junk on private property are handled by Code Enforcement rather than the parking unit. Marking a vehicle and verifying it has not moved is the practical method enforcement officers use to establish the 72-hour period before towing. Because the city relies on the state framework, the time limits, notice, and tow process for abandoned vehicles on Merced streets mirror the California Vehicle Code rather than a unique local clock.