Abandoned vehicles lawsuit against city dismissed

The federal government’s dispute with the city for its handling of abandoned vehicles is officially over. A U.S. District judge dismissed the federal government’s lawsuit against the city Monday.

The parties announced in February that they had reached a settlement that requires the city to develop policies and procedures for the auction or sale of vehicles owned by active-duty service members. Those policies and procedures require the city to better inform service members of the city’s abandoned-vehicle laws, long-term storage and other options. They also require the city to obtain more contact information from service members.

The settlement also required the city to pay a $60,788 civil penalty, $55,857 to three service members whose vehicles were towed and either sold in auction or scrapped, and to establish a $150,000 fund for other service members who had their vehicles towed and sold or scrapped.