MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Military Police are working to clear parking lots on Camp Pendleton congested with disowned or neglected vehicles. That means they're being towed away.
The Provost Marshal's Office is taking a firm stand on vehicles left behind by owners long returned from deployment or who are simply taking advantage of free storage.
"We are going after cars that have been sitting for weeks, months and years," said Cpl. Ryan R. McClaren, Camp Pendleton military police towing noncommissioned officer. "Marine Corps Order 5110.1C and Base Orders P5000.2J and 4500.3B state that vehicles have to be put in a proper storage area."
"It is illegal to store a vehicle in an area not designated to do so," said Staff Sgt. Joey M. Pomerleau, special events coordinator for traffic at PMO.
An off-base towing company will haul vehicles not in compliance with Camp Pendleton regulations, McClaren said.
Military police use a few simple guidelines before they mark a car for towing. If a car has expired state registration, expired base decals or has been in the same parking spot for more than 72 hours, it will be impounded. If the car impedes traffic, is leaking hazardous materials or is parked in a fire zone, it will be towed immediately, Pomerleau said.
"When we see good registration and a good base decal, but a broken window on a vehicle, we will put a notification on the car for the owner to contact us, then we try to call the Marines' commands," said Gunnery Sgt. Wayne R. Jones, chief traffic investigator for PMO.
Long-term parking or vehicle storage is available on base ? at 17 and 52 Area traffic management lots and the Transportation Management Office.
"The 17 and 52 area storage lots have a fee of $10 a month," said Poly A. Mateo, maintenance mechanic for Marine Corps Community Services check-in facility.
"If the Marine is still deployed after the time he has paid for is up, then we waive the late fees," Mateo said.
Pendleton's Traffic Management Office offers free storage to deploying Marines, said Staff Sgt. Carl S. Lopez, Personal Effects and Baggage Center noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
There are some guidelines for using TMO lots, Lopez said. The Marine cannot rate basic allowance for housing and their command must submit a letter to have the car stored.
"Usually commands will give their Marines 72 to 96 hours before they deploy, but the Marines are not taking this time to take care of their vehicles," McClaren said.
Another problem PMO runs into is when Marines sell or buy cars without proper paperwork ? like base registration.
"If the owner sells a car to a Marine and does not change the paperwork over to the new owner, then the original owner will have to take care of the impound charges," McClaren said.
PMO will try to contact the owner of a vehicle that doesn't have a base decal before they tow it, unless it meets the exceptions to tow it before 72 hours, McClaren said.
Once towed to an impound lot by a off-base towing company, owners have 30 days to contact the company before a lien sale. A lien sale is when the storage facility sells the vehicle to recoup its losses for storage and the tow.
"Some towing companies go beyond what they legally need to do and call the owner's command to make sure the Marine is not deployed," Pomerleau said.
For those who aren't deployed, PMO is urging them to retrieve their vehicles before they vanish as part of the move to ease parking lot congestion.
"It's a problem right now, but we are clearing one area at a time," Jones said.