Topeka council gives property maintenance authority to cite abandoned vehicles after debate

The Topeka governing body voted to amend municipal code sections governing abandoned-vehicle citations, expanding citation authority to property maintenance inspectors to improve enforcement consistency.

"Property maintenance is housed under the police department, which is why I am here," Topeka Police Commander Colleen Stewart said in presenting the ordinance. Stewart said property maintenance inspectors work consistent daily beats and could better manage follow-up checks required under the city’s vehicle-movement rules. She told the council that in the past year the police department received 973 SeeClickFix requests for non-emergency quality-of-life issues, and that 65% of those requests related to abandoned vehicles.

Stewart described research linking physical disorder to residents’ perception of safety and argued more consistent enforcement could interrupt cycles that invite crime. "If a neighborhood does not feel safe, then they allow some things to slide through," she said, and added that voluntary compliance and officer outreach are part of existing practice.

Council members raised concerns about distinguishing temporarily immobile or medically constrained vehicles from truly abandoned ones. The deputy mayor asked how the city would classify a vehicle that had not moved because an owner was recovering from surgery; Stewart said the code requires vehicles to move once every 48 hours and officers typically work to contact owners and encourage voluntary compliance before tow actions are taken.

Other council members asked about towing-vendor responsiveness and the city prosecutor’s discretion to dismiss citations. Stewart said the procedure itself would not change — the request expands the authority to issue citations to property maintenance — and explained property maintenance inspectors would receive training and equipment to mark and process abandoned-vehicle complaints.

During voting, Councilman Miller moved to defer for 1 week to seek further clarity, a substitute motion that failed. The original motion to approve, moved by Councilman Banks and seconded by Councilman Duncan, carried 7-2; Council members Kell and Miller voted no. The council did not amend the ordinance text at the meeting.

Staff said third-party towing vendors currently respond to tow orders, and that the city will coordinate with vendors if workload increases following the change in authority.