For sale: Seized cars. Two surprised owners

Nicole Reporter from Dunedin News

Two Dunedin residents say the city council should be doing more to notify owners about seized vehicles, after both were left blindsided and out-of-pocket.

Edward Ulberg’s car, a silver Nissan Bluebird, was towed from its parking spot on Dunedin’s Manor Pl, after it was classified as abandoned and impounded.

The former city resident has been unable to return from Melbourne to New Zealand due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and a friend had been looking after his vehicle – until it disappeared. "We had no idea who had taken the car.’’

A letter notifying the Australian-based Ulberg never reached him, nor did he see his car listed in a public notice published in the Otago Daily Times on Saturday. It took Stuff several minutes to track down Ulberg, who replied a few hours later.

"They need to do a better job at tracking owners down and not assume something has been abandoned...this is ridiculous because they’re probably going to charge me towing fees.’’

Ulberg said he had since contacted council and was told he would be charged almost $2000, if he wanted the vehicle, which he estimated was worth twice that.

But even if he signed the ownership over he would still have to pay $400 infringement fees.

That’s also a decision facing a Dunedin student, who was also tracked down by Stuff.

In late November, a suspected drunk driver smashed into the back of her Volkswagon Golf, which she had parked at Prospect Park due to the shortages of parks in the student area where she lived. The car, which had cost the Dunedin student $3500, had only been driven three times. The incident left the uninsured car with structural damage, and it was effectively written-off, the student, who declined to be named, said.

Her woes continued when on Crate Day she found the parked car had all of its windows smashed, and the weapon of choice – a large branch – had been left inside the vehicle.

The woman headed to Central Otago to pick fruit over summer, with the parked vehicle left on Queens Dr, Dunedin. "I was going to get my dad to take it home."

She had no idea the car had been flagged and stickered as an abandoned vehicle, and was not aware she had received a letter to her Dunedin flat saying it would be seized until it was effectively too late. "No-one my age does mail, I’ve never got a letter in my life... that is my first letter.’’

It annoyed her that the car could now be sold for parts, and the council may benefit from the sale.

She had called the council on the morning her car was towed from its parking spot, and was told the tow truck driver would call her back. "He's never called me.’’

Last year the council returned four vehicles to the registered owners, of the 30 vehicles impounded, council compliance solutions manager Ros MacGill said. If a vehicle remains unclaimed two adverts are placed, seven days apart, advising the car had been considered abandoned and impounded. If the vehicle remains unclaimed, it is then disposed of via a tender process.

MacGill said most abandoned vehicles impounded and disposed are of low value.

The council does not seek to make a profit from the disposal of these vehicles but does try to cover its costs, which include impounding and storage costs.