Newport News, VA Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Public property threshold
- 48 hours unattended
- Private property threshold
- 48 hrs, no owner consent
- Abandonment presumed after
- 4 days, no current tags
- Unclaimed vehicles
- sold at public auction
Summary
A vehicle over 75 pounds is abandoned in Newport News if left 48 hours unattended on public property, or 48 hours on private property without the owner's consent, letting police take possession.
Abandoned motor vehicle. Any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that weighs at least seventy-five (75) pounds and: Is left unattended on public property for more than forty-eight (48) hours in violation of a state law or local ordinance, or Has remained for more than forty-eight (48) hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner ... It shall be presumed ... abandoned if it: Lacks either a current license plate ... or a valid state safety inspection certificate or sticker; and It has been in a specific location for four (4) days without being moved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 26-196 defines an abandoned motor vehicle by weight (at least 75 pounds) and by how long it sits: over 48 hours unattended on public property in violation of law, over 48 hours on private property without the property owner's consent, or left on a primary highway shoulder. Section 26-197 lets police take possession, requires the private property owner's written request and indemnification before towing from private land, and creates a presumption of abandonment if the vehicle lacks a current plate or inspection sticker and hasn't moved in four days.
Violations & Fines
Police take possession and the department searches DMV records for the owner; if unclaimed after notice, the city sells the vehicle at public auction under Va. Code Title 46.2, holding any surplus proceeds 90 days before it goes to the city treasury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can police tow a vehicle off my private property?
How is a vehicle presumed abandoned without a 48-hour count?
Sources & Official References
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