Committee advances bill tightening rules for dismantling towed RVs amid homelessness debate

Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez presented AB 630, which would change the Vehicle Code to allow jurisdictions to dismantle unclaimed recreational vehicles (RVs) valued at $4,000 or less after a 30-day notification period and after giving registered owners an expanded opportunity to reclaim vehicles and belongings.

Freddie Quintana, senior director of state affairs for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, testified that Los Angeles identified thousands of vehicles used as dwellings and that the city has repeatedly seen impounded or auctioned RVs return to the street as low-cost housing marketed by predatory buyers. Quintana said the bill aims to raise the dismantling threshold and strengthen notice and reclamation processes to reduce "van-lording." Opponents, including Keely O’Brien of the Western Center on Law and Poverty and Carmen Nicole Cox of ACLU California Action, argued the bill still risks widespread destruction of people’s only shelter, noting many RV residents lack reliable mailing addresses, legal help, or funds to pay towing and storage fees.

Assembly members debated the trade-offs. Supporters and the author said the bill focuses on dismantling rather than the towing process and includes amended guardrails: a 30-day recovery period for registered owners, a minimum 15-day reclamation notice, tracking and reporting requirements for jurisdictions, and a higher value threshold intended to prevent predatory purchases at auction. Opponents stressed concerns that raising the threshold to $4,000 could eliminate a supply of affordable, if unsafe, shelter and leave people without alternatives. Several members said they supported the bill as a framework but urged further work with advocates to avoid unintended harm.

The committee voted to pass AB 630 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations.