Wayne County follows Michigan MCL 257.252 for abandoned vehicles. Vehicles left 48 hours on public property or without permission on private property may be tagged and towed.
Abandoned vehicle enforcement in Wayne County is governed by Michigan Compiled Law 257.252 and 257.252a. A vehicle is considered abandoned if left on public property for 48 hours without authorization, left on private property without the owner's permission for 48 hours, or left at a repair facility for more than 48 hours after authorized repairs are complete. Detroit Police, Wayne County Sheriff, and local suburban police tag suspected abandoned vehicles with a notice, and after the waiting period the vehicle is towed to a designated impound. The registered owner is notified by certified mail, and if not claimed within 20 days the vehicle may be sold at public auction or scrapped. Inoperable or unregistered vehicles parked on private property in Detroit and most suburbs also violate local blight ordinances, which can trigger separate citations. Vehicles without current plates or visible damage are common blight triggers in aging Detroit neighborhoods. Owners can reclaim towed vehicles by paying towing, storage, and administrative fees.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Wayne County's abandoned vehicles rules stack up against other locations.
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