Abandoned recreational vehicles.

Assembly Member Mark González's legislation expands California's abandoned vehicle disposal procedures to include recreational vehicles valued at $4,000 or less, while establishing new requirements for public agencies handling these removals. The measure modifies existing protocols that currently apply only to abandoned vehicles worth $500 or less, creating specific provisions for recreational vehicles including mandatory 72-hour notice periods and 30-day recovery windows for owners.

The bill establishes verification requirements for public agencies, mandating confirmation of a recreational vehicle's inoperability before disposal unless the vehicle poses environmental or public safety hazards. Agencies that remove vehicles without proper justification must cover towing and storage costs if the vehicle is later determined to be operable or not hazardous. The legislation defines recreational vehicles as "inoperable" when they can only be moved by tow truck.

New reporting obligations require agencies to submit annual data to their governing bodies detailing the number of recreational vehicles removed, occupants present during removal, and the operational status of each vehicle. The measure maintains existing protections for vehicle owners through mandatory notification procedures and post-storage hearings, while limiting disposal options to licensed dismantlers or scrap processors. Local agencies may receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these new requirements, pending review by the Commission on State Mandates.