Left Your Car on a Michigan Highway? How Long Before It’s Towed?

Michigan highways and roadsides are occasionally decorated with abandoned cars. No doubt you've seen them come and go. Some you may pass daily on your morning commute and wonder how they are still there every morning and every night.

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If your daily commute takes you on the same trip every day you start to notice subtle differences like vehicles abandoned on the highway or roadside. I notice these new sights and often wonder which direction they walked in for help or if they just sat in their car waiting for a ride.

Broken Down Roadside - On a Highway in Michigan? How Long Before It's 'Abandoned'

Picture this: you're left on the side of the road with traffic zooming past you as commuters, like you, have places to be. Can you call someone to get you to work and then start about the business of getting your ride towed? How long do you have before the authorities come along and move it into an impound lot?

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If you decide to get a lift and leave your car, your first call should be to the police, letting them know your plan. This will also save you about an hour spent with a hair dryer and a razor blade. Let me explain.

You see if you don't notify the authorities, you run the risk of your ride being officially dubbed "ABANDONED". This is done with a sticker that has more sticking ability than any other substance you've encountered. If you are charged with the task of getting that thing off, I'd suggest doing a quick search on how to do it easily...notice I didn't say quickly.

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Once the Sticky Sticker of Doom is placed on your vehicle, the clock starts ticking and you have 18 hours to get it off the highway or you will be charged with a fancy citation under MCL 257.252a. "Abandoning a Motor Vehicle". This charge includes fines, so be ready to pay up.

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And if you leave your vehicle there long enough, on top of the already high fines, you'll be assigned even more now that your abandoned car is considered litter under MCL 324.8902 and MCL 324.8905a. Your best bet is to work with the authorities and keep them informed. They are people too and, when treated with respect, law enforcement officers will often go out of their way to help you out of a jam.