Wyandotte County, KS Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)

Section 35-196 lists the circumstances under which a Kansas City, Kansas police officer may impound a vehicle found on a street, highway, alley or other Unified Government property. Subsection (c)(11) targets abandonment specifically: once a vehicle has sat in one of those locations for more than 48 hours, an officer may have it towed, but only after placing a notice on the vehicle stating the intent to tow it if it is not removed within 48 hours. That notice requirement does not apply if the vehicle also falls under one of the other impoundment grounds in § 35-196(c), such as displaying stolen plates or blocking an emergency snow route, in which case immediate towing is allowed.

Separately, § 35-483(b) makes it unlawful to use a public highway to abandon a vehicle or leave one unattended in a way that interferes with highway operations, and lets the Unified Government remove and impound any vehicle left on a public highway or other property open to public use. Once a vehicle is impounded under § 35-196, § 35-198 requires the Unified Government to notify the registered owner, any known non-registered owner, and any lienholder of the impoundment and the reason for it. That notice starts a 30-day clock: if the owner or lienholder does not claim the vehicle and pay the towing and storage charges within 30 days, the vehicle goes to public auction.

Owners may request a hearing before the municipal court's hearing officer under § 35-201 to contest the tow, the fees, or the immobilization, and that request must be made within 30 days of the notice.