Columbus police say COVID-19 caused its impound lot to fill, but satellite imagery shows the lot full at least a half-year before pandemic started
The Columbus Police have stopped towing vehicles for parking violations as its impound lot on the South Side is at near capacityAbandoned cars are increasing on Columbus’ streets and alleys after the city Division of Police stopped towing for parking infractions in January because the city’s impound lot is full.
Miller said he knows of at least four abandoned cars that have been reported to the city by area residents that have been allowed to sit in disrepair on streets for months. A neighborhood liaison police officer told a meeting of 30 residents at Miller's block watch group in February that towing was halted due to a legal issue with impound lot notifications to owners being out of compliance with Ohio law, leading to a temporary halt to auctions, Miller said.
“However, the division identified an operational need to restrict towing due to Police Impound Lot capacity, to ensure that space remains available for critical impounds,” Melanie Amato, the division's public relations adviser, said. “To address this need, the division enacted departmental towing restrictions in January 2023.”
Police encouarge residents to continue reporting unlawfully parked cars, for which officers will still respond and may issue citations. They also may attempt to contact the owner.Amato said that a total 14,556 vehicles were impounded in 2020, rising to 17,236 in 2021, and 20,189 in 2022.
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