City of Rohnert Park

RVs that are legally registered can park on public streets. The City requires that RVs and boats parked on the street be moved 1/10 of a mile every 72 hours. We cannot start the 72 hour ‘clock’ until we have identified the vehicle and marked its tires or parking space.

Public Safety enforces State laws and the Municipal Codes fairly and evenly.  There are residents that park or store their RV on the street. Everyone with an RV can park it in a location that does not violate the rules.

RVs and their occupants cannot block public access to sidewalks or discharge waste onto the street.

The City has the authority to have RVs, boats, and cars towed when they have parked in the same location beyond the 72 hour limit. However, there is only one company in Sonoma County that provides this service. They have limited capacity to store towed vehicles.

The towing company will not tow an RV if someone is living in it. It is legal to live in an RV if the owner complies with the legal requirements applying to all RVs.

You may see items around RVs that appear to be trash. Sometimes those items are trash but that is not always the case. Oftentimes, those items are their personal property, not trash.

City staff cannot remove someone’s personal property. Typically, City staff will speak with the person who owns the property to determine if it is actually trash. If it is trash, City staff provide the person with resources and assistance in removing the trash. If the property is considered personal property, City staff ask the owner to move the property inside their RV.

There are two reasons for an expired registration sticker. The Public Safety Department can determine the reason for the expired registration stickers which will direct the enforcement decision of the Community Services Officer CSO.

1) The registered owner has paid the registration fee and failed to put the renewal sticker on the RV. 
Resolution: The CSO will advise the registered owner to put the updated sticker on the RV, and will advise of the 72 hour parking limit.
or
2) The registered owner failed to pay the fees and are out of compliance. 
Resolution: Enforcement action begins with a citation. Should this not resolve the issue, we will issue a second citation and begin the legal process to remove the RV. The process, referred to as abatement, takes approximately a month or more to complete. During this process, we continue to issue citations which will need to be paid prior to the release of the vehicle in question. The difficulty comes in towing the vehicle.

To obtain a vehicle release, follow these steps:

• Timing: Visit the Records Bureau, during business hours). For recovered stolen vehicles, contact the on-duty Sergeant at 707-584-2600 outside these hours.

• Documents Needed: Bring current registration (with all fees paid) and a moving permit if smog is an issue. The registered owner or an authorized representative with a photo ID must be present.

• Driver: If the registered owner or representative doesn’t have a valid license, bring someone who does to drive the vehicle from the tow yard.

• Payment: Bring EXACT CASH, a cashier's check, or a money order for $176.00.

For any questions regarding authorization documents, contact the records bureau.

Tow Hearings are conducted pursuant to CA Vehicle Code Section 22852. The Tow Hearing will only address issues concerning the validity of a tow and possible early release of a vehicle impounded for 30 days. Discussion concerning Officer actions prior to the tow/impound, probable cause, search and seizure, guilt or innocence or any details about the pending criminal case will not be discussed. You should direct those issues to a criminal defense attorney.

Tow hearings may be scheduled weekdays by visiting the Records Bureau or by calling Records during business hours at (707) 584-2600. The hearing may not be granted if this request is made 10 or more days since the date of tow/impound.

If a VALID REQUEST for a post storage hearing is received, the hearing shall be conducted within two business days after receipt of the request for the hearing(excluding holidays).

If you wish to meet with the Hearing Officer, open, print and complete the attached questionnaire. You will bring this completed form with you when you schedule an appointment.

·  Driver arrested: When the driver is arrested and booked at the jail the officer may tow the vehicle.

·  Registration expired: If the registration is expired for over 6 months the vehicle may be towed.

·  Evidence Impounds: If your vehicle was used in a crime it is subject to impound for evidentiary purposes.

·  30 Day Impound: The driver of the vehicle has never had a license or was driving with a suspended license. Before you loan your car to anyone, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure he/she is properly licensed.

·  Recovered Stolen Vehicle: If your car was stolen, and we recover it, we will tow it at your expense it if we cannot get a hold of you. You will not be charged the $176 administrative fee if we have to tow your previously reported stolen vehicle, but the tow company will charge for the towing and storage.

·  Parked for over 72 hours without moving: It is illegal to leave your car parked on a city street for more than 72 hours without moving it. Generally, we will respond to a complaint about an abandoned vehicle and may store it any time after 72 hours. If the vehicle has been subject of a longer formal "abatement process" and towed pursuant to Vehicle Code Section 22669A, the registered owner is not charged the $176 administrative fee.

Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22850.5 and City of Rohnert Park Resolution #95-152, an administrative fee of $176.00 must be paid to the City of Rohnert Park prior to obtaining a written release for your vehicle. This fee must be paid at the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety Main Station during Records Bureau hours (M-F, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm,) excluding holidays.

Payment will be accepted by cash (exact amount in paper currency only,) cashier's check or money order.

Providing proof current registration and proper identification (driver license, State issued Identification Card or a Military I.D.) is your responsibility.

The vehicle can only be released to the current registered owner or their authorized representative (please call the Records Bureau at 707-584-2600 to determine how to designate an authorized representative).

If you are the new owner and have not yet completed the DMV registration in your name the vehicle will not be released to you until you complete the registration process with DMV, even if you have a bill of sale or were driving the car at the time of the tow.