Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1381

8. In the case of a scrap processor, he maintains a hydraulic baler
and shears, or a shredder, or such other equipment suitable for
processing motor vehicle scrap as required by regulation of the
Department.

§ 5-203. Notification of Acquisition of Vehicles and Assessment for
Vehicles Not Destroyed.

(a)    Every wrecker engaged in the business of purchasing or
otherwise acquiring vehicles for the purpose of scrapping, dis-
mantling, or destroying, shall notify the Department of the acquisi-
tion of such vehicles upon forms prescribed by the Department within
five (5) days of the date of acquiring such vehicles.

(b)    If a wrecker acquires possession of a vehicle, or body or
chassis thereof, for which there is no certificate of title, or certificate
of authority and the vehicle, or body or chassis thereof, has been in
the possession of the wrecker for a period of more than thirty (30)
days, the wrecker shall send a notice of intent to dispose of the
vehicle, or body or chassis thereof, at least ten (10) days prior thereto
by registered mail to the owner and any lienholder as shown on the
records of the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other person
entitled to possession of the vehicle, or body or chassis thereof, if
his address is known or can be reasonably obtained.

(c)    If the owner of the vehicle, or body or chassis thereof, or any
other person entitled thereto, or any lienholder having an interest
therein fails to recover or claim the vehicle, or body or chassis thereof,
within the ten (10) day period specified in the aforementioned notice,
the wrecker having possession of the vehicle, or body or chassis
thereof, shall take and assume free and clear title to the said vehicle,
or body or chassis thereof, without the necessity of securing a certifi-
cate of title, as is required by the provisions of this Article. The
assumption of ownership by the wrecker shall be certified on forms
prescribed by the Department and forwarded to it within five (5)
days from the date ownership has been assumed by the wrecker.

If the address of the owner, lienholder, or any other person entitled
to possession of the vehicle, or body or chassis thereof, for which there
is no certificate of title, cannot be reasonably obtained from the rec-
ords of the Department, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence,
the wrecker having possession of the vehicle or body or chassis thereof
shall take and assume free and clear title to the vehicle, or body or
chassis thereof, after the aforementioned thirty (30) day period. The
assumption of ownership by the wrecker shall be certified on forms
prescribed by the Department and forwarded to it within five (5)
days from the date ownership was assumed by the wrecker.

(d)    The Department shall prescribe forms and have the authority
to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the manner in
which a wrecker or scrap processor notifies the Department of receipt
of a vehicle or body or chassis thereof to be scrapped, dismantled, or
destroyed and the manner in which an assessment is placed upon
a wrecker if a vehicle or body or chassis thereof has a designated
model year in excess of seven years as determined by a national publi-
cation of used car values adopted for use by the Department is not
scrapped, dismantled, or destroyed within one year from the date a
wrecker acquires possession of the vehicle or body or chassis thereof,