WHAT IS AN ABANDONED VEHICLE?

The Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended) defines abandoned “vehicle in relation to a vehicle, includes left in such circumstances or for such period that it is reasonable to assume that the vehicle has been abandoned, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;”

Roscommon County Council does not consider the following to be abandoned:

1. Broken down vehicles, poorly parked vehicles or vehicles involved in residential parking disputes are not considered abandoned
2. Vehicles on public roads which are causing obstruction or road safety hazard should be reported to the Gardaí
3. While a vehicle with no tax or insurance may be an indicator that a vehicle is abandoned, the issue of no tax or insurance on a vehicle on a public road does not automatically deem a vehicle abandoned. Having no Tax or Insurance on a public road is a matter for the Gardaí and does not fall under the remit of Roscommon County Council
4. Burned out vehicles should also be reported to the Gardaí. Burning out a vehicle is criminal behaviour
5. Vehicles in estates which are owned by persons resident in the estate will not be deemed abandoned
6. Vehicles on private lands, private car parks or in estates not taken in charge by the County Council will not be deemed abandoned or investigated
7. Any vehicles registered outside of the Republic of Ireland should be referred to the Gardaí

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE ABANDONMENT OF VEHICLES IS A PROSECUTABLE OFFENCE UNDER SECTION 71 OF THE WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT, 1996, AS AMENDED WITH FINES UP TO €5,000 AND/OR 12 MONTHS IN PRISON ON PROSECUTION.

HOW DOES THE COUNCIL DEAL WITH ABANDONED VEHICLES?

When the Environment Department receive a complaint of an abandoned vehicle our Litter and Waste Enforcement Team will investigate to determine if the vehicle has been abandoned.

If the vehicle is deemed to be abandoned the Council will then follow a procedure of issuing notifications to the registered owner and/or placing notice on the vehicle.

The process from initial inspection to removal can take up to 3 months.

Please note that a vehicle must not have moved for a significant period of time for consideration under this procedure. (up to 6 weeks)

In the event that the Registered Owner of the abandoned vehicle cannot be identified or does not claim the vehicle, the vehicle shall become the property of Roscommon County Council.

If removed the cost of the removal and storage of the vehicle will be recovered from the owner of the vehicle.

HOW TO REPORT AN ABANDONED VEHICLE

To report an abandoned vehicle in a public place submit a completed Complaint Form – Alleged Abandoned Vehicle Details  and submit to environment@roscommoncoco.ie

UNWANTED DOMESTIC CARS

There is NO Charge for car owners to bring their vehicle to an Authorised Treatment Facility.

You may deposit your unwanted vehicle at one of the Authorised Treatment Facilities in County Roscommon:

Kevin Keenan - Castlerea ELV Recycling Ltd.

Cloonkeen, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

Tel: 094 9621250

Christy Connolly - C & H Motors

Cloonkeen, Castlerea, co. Roscommon, F45 D702

Tel: 094 9620793

If dropping off the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) yourself, please ensure that you get a certificate of destruction, or if you are having it collected please be sure that the haulier can show you a valid Waste Collection Permit that allows them to collect End-of –Life-Vehicles. If you suspect that they do not have a valid Waste Collection Permit, take their vehicle registration details and report them to Roscommon County Council Environment Department at environment@roscommoncoco.ie

Vehicles collected illegally often end up dumped or burnt out and are not safely disposed of.

Under the European Union (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2014 the registered owner an End-of-Life Vehicle is required to deposit the vehicle at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF). Failure to deposit your ELV at an ATF may result in a Fixed Payment Notice of €100.

For further information click here End of Life Vehicles