COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police made a policy change in 2022 that is now impacting a resident in Columbus' Olde Towne East neighborhood.
Parked in front of Emily Prieto's home is a Nissan Maxima dented with front-end damage, no license plate and a flat tire. Prieto said the car has been abandoned since last November.
“It hasn't moved since. I have no idea what to do next," she said. "The officer said there was nothing that could be done until June, so this will sit here until June when there is room at the impound lot because of the Kia Boyz stealing the cars,” she said.
Police would not confirm the impound's capacity was reached because of stolen cars, but the policy change does state that there was an operational need to restrict towing due to police impound lot capacity. There are spots at the lot being reserved for critical impounds.
Examples of critical impounds that police cite are damaged and disabled vehicles blocking the roadway from a traffic crash or an impound from a felony crime.
The division implemented the towing restrictions in January 2023. Temporary guidance states that vehicles shall not be towed strictly for parking violations.
Police still encouraging owners to continue reporting unlawfully parked cars. The division said an officer will respond and address each incident appropriately— this may include an attempt to locate the owner or operator and prompt them to move the vehicle or the issuance of a citation.
Prieto still wants to ask police, "what's the resolution?"
10TV called the dealership where the car came from, and was told the car is not stolen and belongs to a customer, but the customer could not be reached.
Meanwhile, Prieto is still waiting for the abandoned car in front of her home to be moved by the owner or towed sometime by police.