Junk and dead cars in Johnston

The 48-hour test

The full sentence in section 325-2: "A motor vehicle shall be deemed abandoned if it is missing any major parts, such as engine, doors, windows, hood, flat tires, or for any reason is immovable under its own power and has been at the same location on the public highway or public property for a period of 48 hours."

Three things matter here. Flat tires are listed beside a missing engine. A car that runs but has a flat still qualifies. And the clock covers public highways and public property, not your driveway.

What the town can do

Section 325-1 makes it an offense to "abandon any junk motor vehicle within the boundaries of the Town of Johnston, either on public or private property," punished under Chapter 1, Article II of the code. "Any police officer may remove and impound" a car that breaks the rule. Paying the tow does not settle it: "The payment of such towing and storage charge shall not release the operator or owner of the motor vehicle from any penalty."

Plates on, front and back

Section 220-1 makes it unlawful to let a car stand or stay parked on a street, a highway or town property "unless it has thereon the proper registration plates attached thereto, one in the front and the other in the rear." Pulling the plates off a dead car and leaving it at the curb breaks that rule. Section 220-107 separately bars running unregistered vehicles, minibikes included, on parks, playgrounds and school property.

Under Johnston section 220-1, after a street tow the officer writes to the owner to say the car was moved, why, and where it now is. When no owner can be identified and three days pass without the car being reclaimed, the officer files a written report.

In a yard

For land that is not public, look to state law. Under section 31-42-1, a car counts as abandoned after more than 3 days on another person's private land when that person never said yes. Section 31-42-7 gives two kinds of people a police route to a demolisher: a landowner stuck with such a car, and an owner who has lost the registration. In both cases the police issue a certificate of authority.

Titles for older cars

The title rules split at model year 2001. From 2001 on, the seller signs the back, then the buyer, and the odometer reading is written in. For anything older, the state issues no title until a sale or a lien, and an owner who wants one anyway can request it for $50. Johnston sellers should add a bill of sale listing the price and their own address.

We checked the DMV office on Diamond Hill Road in Woonsocket, number 2000. Call (401) 356-4031. It is a 13-mile hop as the crow flies, north of central Johnston.

Plates

Plates stay in your hands after the sale. End the registration online, or use a DMV branch drop box: the Affidavit for Cancellation of Registration plus a photo ID or your registration copy.

Nearby

North Providence is 4.0 miles away, Cranston 4.4, Smithfield 5.1 and Providence 5.2. The Rhode Island page has the statewide rules.

Asking for an offer

Phone (877) 421-6008 or fill in the details online. Send the form for your Johnston car. Our Johnston crew can haul it off a driveway, a tagged curb spot or a garage bay.