Marvin Mandel, Governor                       1123

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 11-1002.2 of Article 66˝ of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume), title "Vehicle Laws," sub-
title "Rules of the Road," subheading "Stopping, Standing and Park-
ing," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments,
to read as follows:

11-1002.2. Disposition of abandoned vehicles.

(a)    Notice to last known registered owner.—A police department
which takes into custody an abandoned motor vehicle [, within fifteen
days] shall, as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within
seventy-two hours SEVEN 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 lienholders 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 loca-
tion of the facility where the motor vehicle is being held, inform the
owner and any lienholders 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 lienholders
of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle and consent to the sale
of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.

(b)    Notice by publication.—If the identity of the last registered
owner cannot be determined, or if the registration contains no ad-
dress for the owner, or if it is impossible to determine with reason-
able certainty the identity and addresses of all lienholders, or if the
registered mail notice required by subsection (a) of this section is
returned as undeliverable, notice by one publication in one news-
paper of general circulation in the area where the motor vehicle was
abandoned shall be sufficient to meet all requirements of notice pur-
suant 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.]
Such notice shall have the same contents as those required by regis-
tered mail, and shall be published within fifteen days of the taking
into custody of the motor vehicle except that in the case of said notice
by reason of the return as undeliverable of notice by registered mail
the notice shall be published within seven days of such return.

(c)    Effect of failure to reclaim vehicle.—The consequences and
effect of failure to reclaim an abandoned motor vehicle shall be as
set forth in a valid notice given pursuant to this subsection [sub-
sections (a) and (b)].

(d)    Sale; disposition of proceeds.—If an abandoned motor vehi-
cle has not been reclaimed as provided for in subsection (c) [sub-
sections (a) and (b)], 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