Dozens of Sailors Return to Naval Station Norfolk to Find Cars Impounded

Roughly 90 sailors from the USS Kearsarge returned from about 10 days at sea to find their cars had been towed from a fenced lot at Pier 14 on Naval Station Norfolk, WHRO reported.

A spouse who asked not to be named said her husband called after the Aug. 29 Teddy Swims and Miranda Lambert concert sponsored by Morale, Welfare and Recreation, saying vehicles in the lot had been towed. When the ship returned in early September, sailors waited more than three hours at the MWR impound lot.

Base spokesperson Kelly Wirfel said Naval Station Norfolk coordinated with ship security, discussed parking restrictions and placed barriers in restricted areas before the event. Sailors did not pay out of pocket when reclaiming cars but were told to save receipts; it was unclear who covered the roughly $180 impound fee per vehicle, with the spouse told the ship's captain paid.

The spouse argued that if the ship had been properly notified, far fewer cars, including senior staff vehicles, would have been towed. Kearsarge has been conducting workups after maintenance ahead of a scheduled deployment.

Email the Norfolk City Council:
Kenneth Alexander, mayor@norfolk.gov,
Martin Thomas, martin.thomas@norfolk.gov,
Courtney Doyle, courtney.doyle@norfolk.gov,
Mamie Johnson, mamie.johnson@norfolk.gov,
John Paige, john.paige@norfolk.gov,
Thomas Smigiel, thomas.smigiel@norfolk.gov,
Jeremy McGee, jeremy.mcgee@norfolk.gov,
Carlos Clanton, carlos.clanton@norfolk.gov,

Email the Norfolk School Board:
Tiffany Moore-Buffaloe, tiffany.buffaloe@nps.k12.va.us,
Sarah DiCalogero, sarah.dicalogero@nps.k12.va.us,
Tanya Bhasin, tbhasin@nps.k12.va.us,
Adale Martin, amartin@nps.k12.va.us,
Kenneth Paulson, ken.paulson@nps.k12.va.us,
Jodi Slaughter, jodi.slaughter@nps.k12.va.us,
Alfreda Thomas, alfreda.thomas@nps.k12.va.us,