Starting Tuesday, drivers in Portland could have their car towed without prior notice if it doesn’t have a vehicle identification number, or VIN, or at least one license plate.
The new rules are part of a change to city code updated in August, making it easier to tow certain vehicles.
FILE - Vehicle traffic on the portion of Southwest 2nd Avenue between Harvey Milk Street and Washington Street in downtown Portland, Ore., on Nov. 27, 2023.
Winston Szeto / OPB
If a car doesn’t have a visible VIN number or have at least one license plate, parking authorities can now tow it without notice.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation says automatic tows will allow them to more quickly remove abandoned vehicles from the street.
The rules come as transportation agencies in Oregon face huge budget cuts. PBOT has been cracking down on illegally parked vehicles and unpaid registrations in recent months. The agency said earlier this year it was facing a $32 million budget deficit.