Is there a law that a car can be towed if it has no plates but its parked in my own private driveway...in NJ?

9 lives

I know that in CA it can if you don't have a non-op registration.

oklatom

Many towns have ordinances which will not allow a vehicle without plates to be parked in the driveway. It cuts down on "junk" cars. If your town has that law, yes indeed they can have it towed if you don't register it.

abelsgirl

I would guess that if it's in your private driveway, it can be towed. Call the cops.

somerandomdude

39:3-4. Except as hereinafter provided, every resident of this State and every nonresident whose automobile or motorcycle shall be driven in this State shall, before using such vehicle on the public highways, register the same, and no automobile or motorcycle shall be driven unless so registered.

While NJ law does permit towing of an unregistered vehicle from the highways, it does not apply to your private property. On another's private property, they may opt to have it towed if they like.

That's not to say that your municipality hasn't created an ordinance, which prohibits "junk" cars in your yard. If it isn't moved within a certain amount of time, you get an ordinance violation ticket and wind up in Court. If it just disappeared out of your yard by tow truck, it sounds like there's a problem.

If, however, it was used in a DWI, the new John's law allows for impound for 12 hours following the DWI arrest.

yashi213

I believe that's everywhere inside city limits. They can also get you if its not running, missing wheels, or has an expired tag. My advice park to where your plate isn't facing the road.

mbrcatz

A lot of municipalities have this rule, and some homeowner associations as well.

If someone is telling you this rule exists, it probably does. It's intended to keep the neighborhood from looking like a used car lot.

busnuttwo

call buillding and zoneing at your town office they can help

rapnroc

IT SHOULDN'T BE IT IN YOUR DRIVE WAY....

SORRY IDK I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA THE BAY

gobonzzo

If it is parked on the street it can be towed. It will not be towed if it is parked on private property. Think about this, if an unregistered vehicle without plates could be towed from private property, all the new cars on car dealers' lots could be towed away.

Joe

I just had my car towed from my own driveway in Totowa NJ. I was driving my girlfriends car which is actually her dads car. He let the registration lapse. I WAS driving it on the street, but was in my driveway when the cop stopped us. He ticketed us for the lack of registration and proceeded to tow the car off of my private property. Now, I'm not sure if that is legal or not I'm looking into it, but one would think that you need a warrant to remove my shit from my own land. Like, couldn't the car stay in my driveway unregistered until I resolve the ticket? Did it need to go to the impound which is only 3 blocks from my house? Moral of the story, cops can be douchebags to good law abiding citizens. They shouldn't be if they want our money and support, but they sure don't always give a shit.

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