Addressing public safety and environmental sanitation hazards caused by abandoned vehicles occupying public spaces, the Taoyuan City Government became Taiwan’s first municipality to pass by enacting the Taoyuan City Self-Government Ordinance for Public Area Abandoned Vehicle Removal. Through inter-agency collaboration, the city is actively clearing non-road public lands to address the triple challenges of public safety, environmental hygiene, and space occupation. Since its implementation earlier this year in 2026, the ordinance has enabled the removal of 64 abandoned vehicles across 19 public sites in seven administrative districts, effectively restoring public space and improving environmental quality.
The Department of Environmental Protection of the Taoyuan City Government (TYDEP) stated that public areas in Taoyuan—such as spaces beneath elevated bridges, public plazas, parks, and municipal parking bays—were frequently occupied for long periods by abandoned or damaged vehicles. This prevented residents from utilizing public space while creating safety and sanitation risks. To close this regulatory gap, the city government established a formal legal framework to report, inspect, and remove abandoned vehicles from municipal parking facilities and public properties outside designated roadways.
The Office of Environmental Management (OEM) explained that under the ordinance, when managing agencies identify a vehicle meeting abandoned criteria, an official notice will be posted on the vehicle giving the owner a 7-day deadline to remove it. If the owner fails to relocate the vehicle within that timeframe, the OEM will immediately tow and transport the vehicle to a designated storage facility. Unclaimed vehicles will subsequently be processed and disposed of in accordance with waste management regulations.
The OEM urges vehicle owners not to abandon scrapped or damaged vehicles in public areas. The city government will continue strengthening patrols and inter-agency cooperation across all administrative districts to enforce vehicle clearance. Residents who spot suspected abandoned vehicles are encouraged to report them to the city government to help maintain public safety and build a clean, liveable Taoyuan.