Starting November 1, Dearborn Police will step up enforcement of nuisance vehicles stored on private property to preserve the quality of neighborhoods and remove safety hazards.

To avoid a $500 fine, police are encouraging residents who have a title to an unwanted vehicle to take advantage of the City’s amnesty program by calling Rusko’s Towing at 313-274-4550.

The unwanted vehicle will be towed away without cost.

Residents who want to keep their vehicles are encouraged to move any that meet the definition of a nuisance into storage inside an enclosed structure. This includes vehicles that are disassembled, stripped, dismantled, can’t be driven or are in a state of disrepair.

Vehicles found to be inoperative for any reason could be in violation of the nuisance ordinance, known as City Ordinance 13-2.

This applies to property owners who store, or allow to be stored, a nuisance vehicle.

After November 1, vehicles found to be in violation of the nuisance ordinance will be tagged by the Police Department. Residents will have 72 hours to remove or properly store the vehicle.

After that, the homeowner may be responsible for towing/storage and a misdemeanor violation punishable by a fine up to $500.

“When you’re finished working on your car, push it back in the garage,” said Police Cpl. Mike Nelson. “Leaving them out is neighborhood blight.”

Nuisance vehicles also can be dangerous.

They often have broken glass, sharp metal protrusions or are mounted on blocks or jacks that might become unstable.

Because they frequently block access for fire equipment to adjacent buildings and structures, nuisance vehicles also constitute a fire hazard.

They can serve as a breeding ground for insects and rodents.