Celarlake >> During the last several months the city of Clearlake has seen a significant increase in the number of motor homes and travel trailers abandoned in residential and business areas. The Clearlake Police Department believes some of this increase is a result of abandoned marijuana growing operations and increased code enforcement efforts.
“These trailers are being left on the side of the road, sometimes blocking roadways and driveways,” CPD Lt. Tim Celli said in a statement to the press. “We have found that it is extremely difficult and costly to remove these vehicles after they have been left abandoned.”
The law does allow for these vehicles to be towed; however, it has proven frustrating to find tow companies willing to tow these vehicles, due to the storage and costs associated with disposing of these large vehicles. In some cases tow trucks are not equipped or rated to tow some of these recreational vehicles. Other companies capable of towing the vehicles have submitted bids to tow in excess of several thousand dollars, Celli said.
Often times the vehicles are left without any license plates or registration information to track registered owners. In other situations, registrations have been transferred numerous times leaving a lengthy trail of previous owners making it difficult to prove who was responsible for the vehicle.
The city of Clearlake is researching several different options and cost-effective ways for dealing with abandoned vehicles.
“In the meantime our department is asking citizens who see anyone engaged in dumping recreational vehicles or any vehicles to call our dispatch and report it at the time of occurrence. We need the communities help to combat this issue,” Celli said.
There are very few exceptions which allow police officers to make arrests for misdemeanor offenses that occur outside the officer’s presence, making prosecution of misdemeanor crimes difficult, the public information officer said. However, if a person sees someone engaged in illegal dumping activities and are willing to be witnesses, the case can be sent to the district attorney for prosecution.
If a person reports suspicious or illegal activity and the police can catch suspects in the act, then the crime could be determined to have occurred in the officer’s presence and a citizen’s arrest may not be needed.
Call the CPD Dispatch at (707) 994-8251 ext. 1) to report suspicious activity. Callers may remain anonymous.
“Working in partnership with our community, together we can make a difference,” Celli said.
