Woodbridge, NJ Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Owner notice deadline
- 7 days after the tow
- Sale authority
- Township PD, sole discretion
- Sale proceeds priority
- Towing and storage charges first
- No-bid outcome
- Tower takes title for $5
Summary
When Woodbridge police tow an abandoned vehicle, § 4-7.24 gives the Police Department seven days to try to notify the owner, and § 4-7.25 lets the department arrange a public sale of any impounded vehicle that goes unclaimed, with proceeds applied first to towing and storage charges.
§ 4-7.24. Abandoned or Unclaimed Vehicles. The Police Department shall be responsible for attempting to notify the owner of an abandoned vehicle towed under this section, within seven days of the tow, that his vehicle has been towed to the impound area. § 4-7.25. Sale of Unclaimed or Abandoned Vehicles. The Township of Woodbridge Police Department shall, at its sole judgment and uncontrolled discretion, arrange for public sale of any vehicle which has been the subject of impoundment or when the owner has failed to receive same. Such public sale shall be in accordance with New Jersey State law. ... If no bids are received on a vehicle, then the official tower shall receive title for nominal consideration of five ($5.00) dollars for such vehicle in lieu of any fees which may be due the official tower pursuant to this section.
Full Breakdown
24 places a specific, short deadline on the Police Department: it must attempt to notify the owner of an abandoned vehicle towed under the wrecker chapter within seven days of the tow that the vehicle sits in the impound area. 25 gives the department "sole judgment and uncontrolled discretion" to arrange a public sale, but only after obtaining the authorization the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission requires before any such sale under state law. Sale proceeds go first to pay the towing and storage charges owed to the official tower that handled the vehicle; any money left over must be disposed of according to law.
If the sale proceeds fall short of the towing and storage bill, the Township owes the tower nothing further, and any shortfall is simply waived. If a vehicle draws no bids at all, the official tower takes title for a nominal $5 payment instead of collecting its normal fees. 26.
Violations & Fines
These sections govern the Township's and the tower's administrative obligations rather than setting a fine against a vehicle owner; an official tower who fails to follow the notice, sale or fee-disclosure procedures is subject to § 4-7.27's general wrecker penalty of a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Woodbridge police have to notify me if my car is towed as abandoned?
What happens to an abandoned vehicle nobody claims in Woodbridge?
What if an abandoned vehicle gets no bids at the public sale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodbridge
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Abandoned Vehicles in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle abandoned vehicles.