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SPECIAL VEHICLE COORDINATOR

Our philosophy of community policing here in the City of Frederick is the practice of working with our citizens in all of our neighborhoods to identify their concerns, prioritize those issues, and develop plans to address them. Central to this is the idea of bringing together everyone connected with the problem to work out a solution. Community policing is the backbone of our Department.

“Quality of life” issues such as abandoned vehicles, barking dogs, and trash complaints, are the types of problems that concern most citizens. We must continually devise enlightened, sophisticated, and inclusive approaches to resolving such issues. In that spirit, the Police Department has developed a new position - the Special Vehicle Coordinator (SVC). This is a part time position that has been created to work with the community on ridding the streets of abandoned vehicles. Working closely with the Neighborhood Advisory Councils and other citizens and groups to resolve issues is a primary goal for this position. The SVC works under the Criminal Investigation Division, and is in the office Tuesday – Thursday during business hours.

In addition to those duties, the SVC administers Taxicab licensing and permitting in the City of Frederick, and handles complaints and compliments about the cab service that is provided in the City. The City must approve and issue a permit for any vehicle that transports passengers for cost from points within the City of Frederick. The City must also license all those drivers who operate taxicabs in the City. Violations should be reported to the SVC.

The Special Vehicle Coordinator works Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Thursdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. If you have questions, concerns, or even suggestions, you are encouraged to contact the SVC at:

Kelly Russell
301-600-2716
krussell@fredco-md.net
 

TAXICAB INFORMATION, PERMITS, FORMS

• Guide to applying for a taxicab driver's license
• Taxicab drivers: Operators application
• Taxicab owners: Application to permit a taxicab
• Taxicab compliments or complaints (form)
• Taxicab accident report form

ABANDONED VEHICLES

What does 'abandoned vehicle' mean?

There are two categories of abandoned vehicles; those left on City streets, and those sitting on private property:

For vehicles on City streets:

"Abandoned vehicle" means any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer:
(1)   That is inoperable and left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours; or (2)   That has remained illegally on public property for more than 48 hours. (MD Vehicle Law, TR §25-201)

  For vehicles on private property (these are handled by the Division of Code Enforcement for the City of Frederick):

(a) An abandoned vehicle is any unlicensed and/or inoperable vehicle which is not in running condition or which is in such a state of disintegration or disrepair as to have no value as a vehicle. A vehicle means any device in, on, or by which any individual or property is or might be transported or towed on a highway and includes, but is not limited to, campers, boats and trailers. In addition, vehicles will be deemed abandoned if any of the following conditions apply:(1) The vehicle is declared a nuisance and danger to health, safety and welfare. (2) The vehicle is deteriorated or in a condition that constitutes a breeding ground for rats, mosquitoes, or other vermin or insects. (3) The vehicle is rusted, wrecked, dismantled or in a deteriorated condition so as not to be lawfully permitted on public roads.

(b) It shall be unlawful and declared a nuisance and a danger to the public for any person to store or maintain or allow to be stored or maintained any abandoned vehicle of any kind, as described in this section, upon any property within the city unless such a vehicle is stored within a completely enclosed garage or building or the body of the vehicle is entirely covered with a vehicle cover, which is in good condition and which is specifically designed for such purposes. However, a vehicle in any condition listed in subsections (a)(1), (2) or (3) above shall not be permitted to be covered. The maximum number of vehicles that may be covered per lot is two (2). This section does not apply to a business operating pursuant to a zoning certificate which permits the storage of vehicles.

(c) The owner of the vehicle and/or property owner must remove said abandoned vehicle within ten (10) days of the date of a notice to do so from the director of permits and code management. In the event the owner of the vehicle or of the property shall fail or refuse to comply with such notice, it shall be lawful for the city to remove the same and charge the cost to the owner of the vehicle and/or the property owner. Violation of this section is declared to be a municipal infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed four hundred dollars ($400.00). (Ord. No. G-92-51, § 1, 11-5-92; Ord. No. G-96-33, § 1, 8-15-96)

REPORTING ABANDONED VEHICLES

You may report an abandoned vehicle by these methods:

For vehicles on City Streets:

Call the Frederick Police Headquarters at 301-600-2100
Call the **Special Vehicle Coordinator at 301-600-2716 or email at krussell@fredco-md.net

For vehicles on private property:

Call Code Enforcement for the City at 301-600-3825
Email Code Enforcement at violations@cityoffrederick.com

To assist us in locating and identifying the vehicle, please provide as much of the following information as possible:

Street Address of vehicle (or other location description if needed)
Length of time at that location (i.e. days, weeks….)
Vehicle Year, Make, Model, and Color
License Plate State and Number

** Special Vehicle Coordinator’s regular hours are Tuesday through Thursday, so an immediate response may not be possible. If you require a response right away, please call 301-600-2100.