Ponta Grossa Municipality tightens rules and will tow abandoned cars from streets

The Prefeitura de Ponta Grossa has formalized the sanction of Law No. 16.124/2026, which establishes new rules and procedures for the identification, notification and removal of vehicles in a situation of abandonment in public buildings of the municipality. The main objective of the measure is to improve urban mobility, strengthen public safety, curb the proliferation of disease vectors and revitalize the visual aspect of the city’s neighborhoods.

Abandonment Criteria

According to the new law, a vehicle is considered abandoned when it has a visible poor state of conservation and is not able to move safely. The legal text details a number of indicative features, such as:

Mechanical or structural inadequacy: vehicles without safe driving conditions;

Severe breakdowns: broken or missing glass, lack of headlights, flashlights, bumpers or rear-view mirrors;

Signs of vandalism or deterioration: surfaces covered by impregnated dirt, debris accumulation, signs of fire or marked rust in the bodywork;

Improper use: indications that the car is being used as a storage of objects;

Prolonged abandonment: growth of vegetation under the vehicle or around it;

Missing components: absence of wheels or at least one worn-out tire;

Compromised identification: missing, erased or illegible identification plates;

Fractional parts: storage of vehicle parts, such as insulated chassis or bodywork.

In addition to the visual criteria, the legislation provides that even vehicles without apparent damage will be covered by the norm if they remain parked in the same place on public roads for a period of more than 60 days, counted from the official verification of the inspection or from a formal complaint by any citizen.

Notification and Removal Procedure

Once the irregularity has been identified, the competent municipal body will adopt gradual measures based on the identification of the owner:

1. With prior notification: If it is possible to identify the owner, he will be notified to carry out the voluntary removal of the vehicle within a period of 5 days, under penalty of compulsory removal. If the owner is not located on the premises, the notification will be posted on the property itself and published in the Official Journal of the Municipality.

2. Immediate removal: Vehicles totally devoid of identifying elements (such as illegible chassis or missing plates), unnumbered handmade trailers, human propulsion carts, wagons or isolated parts of abandoned vehicles may be removed immediately without prior notification.

Destination of Collected Vehicles

The collected cars and structures will be forwarded to the accredited municipal courtyard. The release of the property will be conditional on proof of ownership and discharge of all relevant winch fees, yard fees and debits.

The law also reinforces that the collected vehicles that are not claimed by their owners within the legal period established by the Brazilian Transit Code (CTB) will be destined for sale through public auction.

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With the entry into force of the new standard, which replaces the old legislation of 2012 (Lei Municipal no 11.198), the municipal Executive Power gains a more modern and agile legal apparatus to solve the impasses generated by abandoned vehicles on the streets of Ponta Grossa.