Skip to content

LTE: Junk vehicles ordinance vs city of Longmont website

A friend's car was towed for expired tag.
pexels-mike-b-170811

The Longmont Leader accepts contributions, photos, and op-eds for publication from community members, business leaders and public officials on local topics. Publication will be at the discretion of the editor and published opinions do not represent the views of the Longmont Leader or its staff. To submit a contribution, email [email protected].

Recently my friend's vehicle was impounded for the crime of having an expired temporary plate. Under the city's ordinance this vehicle is considered a "junk" vehicle and, therefore, eligible to be towed despite the vehicle being fully operational and my friend being present. However, on the city's website under "Junked Vehicles" there is a listed bullet point that states, "If determined to be junked, staff will issue a parking ticket for junked vehicle and tag the vehicle indicating that the vehicle will be towed ASAP." This did not occur.

I suggested to my friend that he appeal the tow and on Thursday he was given a tow hearing. The judge said the ordinance pertaining to impounding junked vehicles did not contain a provision that the vehicle's owner must first receive a ticket and a tag declaring the vehicle will be impounded as stated above.

It appears that I made the mistake of assuming that the junked vehicle guideline or policy listed on the city's website would also be codified within the municipal ordinance. I would suggest that the city either add the above statement to the municipal code or remove the statement from it's website.