DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE
WHERE/WHEN APPLICABLE
RESPONSES

DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE:
In part because of tougher State regulations for automobile inspections that started at the end of 1999, there have been an increasing number of abandoned cars found in Boston neighborhoods.

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WHERE/ WHEN APPLICABLE:
Abandoned cars are particularly problematic along the Blue Hill Avenue corridor, in vacant lots, and along rail lines. Although major strides have been made in the Erie-Ellington neighborhood, Drummond, Greenwood, and Ellington Streets have been problem areas in this respect.

According to The Boston Globe, parts of Hyde Park, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Roslindale have become virtual dumping grounds, with scores of deserted, license-plate-free cars waiting for a City tow truck (Karen E. Crummy, "Tougher Standards Lead to More Abandoned Cars," The Boston Globe, Mar. 7, 2002).

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RESPONSES:

In 2004, Boston police began towing abandoned and unregistered cars they have already started tagging with green warning stickers giving owners a 72-hour head start to get the vehicles off the streets. Sgt. Tony Ronseca told The Boston Globe that the Police Department is acting on the "broken window" principle of community policing -- that to tolerate urban blight makes even cops look like they don't care. He said police anticipate rounding up more than 100 orphaned autos. In 2003, 133 were recovered (Laurel J. Sweet, "Abadoned cars to get the hook," The Boston Herald, May 14, 2004).

The City service for abandoned cars can be reached at (617) 635-4500.

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