1486                             Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 534

§ 11-1002.2. Sale of abandoned vehicles.

(a)    A police department which takes into custody an abandoned
motor vehicle, within fifteen days thereof, by registered mail, return
receipt requested, signed by the addressee, shall notify the last known
registered owner of the motor vehicle and all lien holders as shown
on the records of the Department that the vehicle has been taken into
custody. The notice shall describe the year, make, model, and serial
number of the abandoned motor vehicle; set forth the location of the
facility where the motor vehicle is being held, inform the owner and
any lien holders of their right to reclaim the motor vehicle within
three weeks after the date of the notice, upon payment of all towing,
preservation and storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle
in custody, and state that the failure of the owner or lien holders to
exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided
shall be deemed a waiver by the owner and all lien holders of all
right, title, and interest in the vehicle and consent to the sale of the
abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.

(b)    If the identity of the last registered owner cannot be deter-
mined, or if the registration contains no address for the owner, or if
it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity
and addresses of all lien holders, notice by one publication in one
newspaper of general circulation in the area where the motor vehicle
was abandoned shall be sufficient to meet all requirements of notice
pursuant to this section. The notice by publication may contain
multiple listings of abandoned vehicles. Any such notice shall be
within the time requirements prescribed for notice by registered mail
and shall have the same contents required for a notice by registered
mail.

(c)    The consequences and effect of failure to reclaim an aban-
doned motor vehicle shall be as set forth in a valid notice given
pursuant to this subsection.

(d)    If an abandoned motor vehicle has not been reclaimed as pro-
vided for in subsection (c), the police department shall sell it at public
auction. The purchaser of the motor vehicle shall take title to the
motor vehicle free and clear of all liens and claims of ownership, shall
receive a sales receipt from the police department, and shall be
entitled to register the purchased vehicle and receive a certificate of
title. The sales receipt at such a sale shall be sufficient title only for
purposes of transferring the vehicle to a scrap processor for demoli-
tion, wrecking, or dismantling, and in such case, no further titling
of the vehicle is necessary. From the proceeds of the sale of an
abandoned motor vehicle the police department shall reimburse itself
for the expenses of the auction, the costs of towing, preserving, and
storing the vehicle which resulted from placing the abandoned motor
vehicle in custody, and all notice and publication costs incurred pur-
suant to subsection (c) of this section. Any remainder from, the pro-
ceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the vehicle or entitled
lien holder for ninety days, and then shall be deposited with the
State Treasurer in a special fund which shall remain available for
the payment of auction, towing, preservation, storage, and all notice
and publication costs which result from placing other abandoned
vehicles in custody, whenever the proceeds from a sale of such other
abandoned motor vehicles are insufficient to meet these expenses and