Abandoned recreational vehicles

The law lets local public agencies and state agencies use the program, while retaining notice, hearing, and owner-recovery protections before an RV is destroyed or scrapped.

What the law does ​

• Authorizes the Counties of Alameda and Los Angeles, any public agency within them, and state agencies to run the abandoned-RV disposal program in either county through January 1, 2032.
• Requires disposal procedures when an RV removed as abandoned is valued at $4,000 or less, including advance removal notice in most cases, owner notice, and notification to the Department of Justice's Stolen Vehicle System.
• Gives owners and other interested people 30 days to reclaim an RV and 10 days to request a post-storage hearing.
• Bars disposal while a timely requested hearing or judicial review is pending.
• Allows disposal after the claim period only for unclaimed vehicles with unpaid towing and storage fees; operable RVs may be disposed of only when towed for an environmental or public-safety hazard.
• Limits disposal to licensed dismantlers or scrap-iron processors and generally bars disposed RVs from being rebuilt or made operable.
• Requires authorized local public agencies to report annually to their governing bodies on removals, occupants found, and whether removed RVs were operable.

Who it affects ​

• Owners and other people with an interest in abandoned recreational vehicles removed in Alameda or Los Angeles County.
• Local public agencies, state agencies, peace officers, towing and storage providers, lienholders, dismantlers, and scrap-iron processors.

Context ​

The prior county authorization was scheduled to end January 1, 2030.