PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 524

(1)     From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned vehicle, the police
department shall reimburse itself for the costs of towing, preserving, and storing the
vehicle and the expenses of the auction, including all notice and publication costs
incurred under this subtitle; and

(2)     Any remaining proceeds of the sale shall be held for 90 days for the
owner of the vehicle and any entitled secured party, after which the remaining proceeds
revert to:

(i) The treasury of the county in which the sale was made; or

(ii) In the case of a municipality that conducts the sale, the treasury of
the municipality.

(E)     (1) AFTER SATISFYING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A
CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR AN ABANDONED VEHICLE UNDER § 25-207.1 OF THIS
SUBTITLE, A POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY RETAIN AND USE THE VEHICLE FOR PUBLIC
PURPOSES WITHOUT ANY FURTHER NOTICE OR CONSENT OF THE OWNER OTHER
THAN A LESSOR AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(2) (I) IF THERE IS A SECURED PARTY WITH AN INTEREST IN THE
VEHICLE AS SHOWN ON THE RECORDS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT MAY NOT RETAIN THE VEHICLE FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES WITHOUT
THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE SECURED PARTY.

(II) IF THE VEHICLE IS OWNED BY A LESSOR UNDER A LEASE NOT
INTENDED AS SECURITY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT RETAIN THE VEHICLE
FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE LESSOR.

(F)      A VEHICLE RETAINED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES UNDER SUBSECTION (E) OF
THIS SECTION:

(1)      MAY NOT BE DISMANTLED OR DISASSEMBLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
USING ITS COMPONENT PARTS; AND

(2)      WHEN NO LONGER USABLE FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, SHALL MAY AT
THE DISCRETION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE, BE
SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBTITLE OR TRANSFERRED BY
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO A SCRAP PROCESSOR LICENSED UNDER § 15-502 OF
THIS ARTICLE.

25-207.1.

(a) This section applies to any vehicle:

(1)     Which is impounded by a police department either as abandoned or
pursuant to other State or local law;

(2)     From which the engine or vehicle serial number has been removed or
defaced; and

(3)      Of which neither the owner nor any secured party can be identified from
records of the Administration or other reasonable steps taken by the police department.

- 2985 -