That graffitied travel trailer abandoned east of Quincy? It’s gone! The vintage cruiser, encased in what looks like cement, abandoned in the Feather River Canyon? Gone!
Plumas County officials in six different departments collaborated Dec. 3 in a mass sweep of abandoned vehicles, hauling off 10 in one day. It’s part of a program designed to both remove these unsightly blemishes and prosecute those who have abandoned them.
“Plumas County is beset by abandoned vehicles.”
David Hollister, Plumas County district attorney
“Plumas County is beset by abandoned vehicles,” said Plumas County District Attorney David Hollister. “They not only present an eyesore but serve as an environmental hazard.”
Working closely with Plumas County Undersheriff Chad Hermann and California Highway Patrol Lt. Ryan Pedersen, Hollister developed a collaborative approach for the investigation, prosecution and prompt removal of abandoned vehicles. Others key to the operation include Plumas County Building Department Director Michael Coehlo, Code Enforcement Officer Jennifer Langston, Plumas County Public Works Deputy Director Joe Blackwell, Plumas County Assistant District Attorney Graham Archer and DA Investigator Shawn Adams.
The operation began Dec. 3 immediately after the Plumas County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the collaborative program along with the use of up to $50,000 in the county’s Environmental Settlements fund. These funds come from a variety of settlements, including train derailments, and are restricted for the exclusive use of the district attorney for the enforcement of consumer protection laws, Hollister said.
Approving this fund expenditure means the cooperating departments are removing abandoned vehicles without the use of taxpayer or county general fund monies, Hollister emphasized. The funds will support the initial towing and dismantling costs of targeted vehicles while the district attorney’s department pursues criminal prosecution aimed at court-ordered restitution from the person abandoning their vehicle.
“If people think they can just haul their car out of their backyard and leave it on Highway 70 and it’s going to disappear for free, they’re sadly mistaken. We’re going to figure out who did it, and we’re going to track them down, and we’re going to prosecute them,” Hollister said.
“You will get caught.”
Tom McGowan, Plumas County supervisor
“You will get caught,” added Supervisor Tom McGowan.
Once identified, the DA’s office will file misdemeanor criminal charges under Section 5-8.15 of the Plumas County Code. The goal is to make sure each prosecution ends with the person convicted of abandoning the vehicle not only paying restitution for the costs of towing and dismantling the vehicle, but also serving jail time.
“We intend to deter the abandoning of vehicles by using a robust criminal prosecution to make an example of those who are caught,” said Hollister.
This program will roll out in stages. The 10 abandoned vehicles picked up Dec. 3 were moved to a holding area while officials comply with the vehicle code requirements for the seizure. Once the requirements are met, the vehicle will be towed to a licensed dismantler, also a requirement under the code.
The program is currently focused on major highway arteries but in the future it may expand to include federal land. Supervisor Kevin Goss noted that around 80% of the land in his district is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
“And we have a ton of stuff laying out there in the forest that can be and is identifiable as well,” he said.
Hollister said those discussions have started, “and they’re going to continue.”
Plumas County is fortunate that it is small enough to get together officials from code enforcement to the sheriff’s office and the CHP, among others. The cooperation across departments has been exceptional, he said.
“Our intention is to secure a sentence that includes jail and restitution, and make an example of those that are attacking the beauty of Plumas County by junking their cars on our roads,” Hollister said.
