Derelict motor vehicles should be removed from roads — Lee

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MANILA — A lawmaker is pushing for the removal of abandoned or derelict motor vehicles on roads, highways and streets saying these obstruct the free flow of traffic.

Rep. Delphine Gan Lee (Party-list, AGRI) made the proposal in House Bill 5249, to be known as Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act of 2014, which seeks to govern abandoned and derelict motor vehicles.

“Abandoned and derelict motor vehicles are nuisances. They obstruct the free flow of traffic on the street on which they lay abandoned. They prevent the free ingress and egress of real property owners whey they are left unattended in front of driveways and gates. They prevent the free use of real property when they are dumped and abandoned on the same. They are a source of lost income to automobile repair, towing and storage facilities when their owners abscond,” Lee said.

Lee sought the immediate approval of the bill “to protect the public from the potential harm that may befall them as a result of abandoned and derelict motor vehicles.”

There are several definitions of an “abandoned motor vehicle” under the bill, one of which is “a motor vehicle or trailer and its contents which has been left by the owner or some person acting for the owner with an automobile dealer, or any automobile repair facility for repair or for some other reason.”

“The said motor vehicle has not been called for by such owner or other person within a period of 30 days after the time agreed upon,” Lee said.

A motor vehicle is also considered an abandoned motor vehicle if it has been lawfully towed to an automotive storage facility at the request of a law enforcement officer and left there for a period of not less than 30 days without anyone having paid all reasonable current charges for such towing and storage.

For a motor vehicle to be considered “derelict,” the bill states that it has been left unattended on private property for not less than two days or for not less than three days if left unattended on public property without the driver making any attempt to recover such vehicle.

It shall also include any motor vehicle which, if a conspicuous note was left, has been left unattended for not less than five days and if the vehicle is damaged to the extent that its restoration to an operable condition would require the replacement of one or more major component parts or involves any structural damage that would affect the safety of the vehicle.

The bill carries provisions on procedure for foreclosure of liens, procedure for derelict motor vehicles as well as provisions on prohibited acts and penalties, among others.