Pittsburgh cracks down on abandoned vehicles during 3-day blitz

Pittsburgh Police towed nearly two dozen vehicles during a three-day blitz to get abandoned cars and trucks off city streets.

Police said the blitz — the third conducted this year — was focused in the city’s Manchester, Marshall-Shadeland, Woods Run, Troy Hill, Lower Perrysville and Upper Perrysville neighborhoods.

Police investigated 86 complaints made to the city’s 311 system for abandoned vehicles in these neighborhoods.

Sixty of the complaints were handled on July 11 and 12. Of those complaints, 57 of the vehicles were already gone from the area when police arrived.

Three other vehicles that were thought to have been abandoned were, in fact, legally registered, police said.

During the blitz, officers identified four vehicles that were not reported to 311, but had expired registrations. The owners will receive a letter informing them to register the vehicles to avoid being towed.

Police can tow a vehicle immediately if the registration has been expired for 90 days.

State law requires authorities to notify the last known registered owner and any lien holders that a vehicle is being held as abandoned and allow them 30 days to reclaim it or any contents.

If there is no response within 30 days, the vehicle can be disposed of or sold.

The third day of the blitz on July 13 resulted in 23 of the 26 vehicles that were reported as abandoned being towed, police said.

One of the vehicles that was reported was gone when police investigated and the owners of two others were notified by letter to register the vehicles.

When police conducted a blitz in late April, Mayor Bill Peduto called abandoned vehicles “a blight on neighborhoods” and vowed to commit resources to address the problem.

Officers from all six police stations worked with traffic supervisors during the blitz.

The mayor urged residents to report vehicles that are believed to have been abandoned.

Police investigated 124 reports of abandoned vehicles during April’s week-long blitz in the Allentown, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Arlington Heights and Knoxville neighborhoods.

Police had 17 of the vehicles towed and the owners of 15 others were sent letters informing them that the registration for the vehicles was expired.

Complaints about abandoned vehicles on Pittsburgh streets can be directed to the 311 center by calling 311 or 412-255-2621. Complaints also can be filed online at: pittsburghpa.gov/311/form.