French law regarding dumping cars in garden
Can people just abandon cars in their garden and leave them there long term? Our neighbours have several ‘wrecks’ dumped in the garden and, apart from being unsightly, I fear there will be pollution or other problems. How can I get them to get rid of the cars? J.A.
Your first approach would, of course, be to speak to your neighbours to see if they know that you are concerned, especially as oil pollution can be very difficult for local farmers or anyone dependent on water from the watercourses.
There is no legal definition of a wreck, un épave, but if a vehicle is obviously not driveable and unlikely to be repaired you can speak to your mayor as it is their responsibility to get the owners to clear what could become an environmental problem. He/she has police powers through the police municipale or garde champêtre to enforce this.
The mayor can order the owners to get rid of the cars within a certain timeframe (at least two weeks) unless there is an urgent reason such as an oil leak.
If they do not comply, the mayor can:
- demand they deposit funds with an accountant to cover the cost which is returned once the clearance is done
- get council workers to clear the wrecks at the owners’ expense
- or, order a daily penalty payment of up to €1,500 per day until the wrecks have been cleared.
Question answered by Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats
Tel: 05 61 57 90 86 -www.brightavocats.com contact@brightavocats.com
If you have a legal query send it tonews@connexionfrance.com
