Abandoned VehiclesLAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY
ATVs, UTVs, and Minibikes
Once it has been established by a law enforcement agency that an ATV, minibike or UTV has been abandoned, and after specific guidelines for owner notification have been met, a Certificate of Title is issued. The County Treasurer issues abandoned titles to the law enforcement agency under whose jurisdiction the ATV, minibike or UTV was abandoned.
An ATV, minibike or UTV may be considered abandoned by law enforcement if left unattended:
- more than twenty-four hours on any public property, except a portion thereof on which parking is legally permitted;
- more than forty-eight hours, after the parking of such vehicle shall have become illegal, if left on a portion of a public property on which parking is legally permitted;
- more than SEVEN days on private property if left initially without permission of the owner or after permission of the owner is terminated;
- more than thirty days in the custody of a law enforcement agency after the agency has sent a letter to the last-registered owner and lienholder (if applicable).
After the abandoned title has been issued, the law enforcement agency is charged with final disposition of the ATV, minibike or UTV.
Public property is defined as any public right-of-way, street, highway, alley, park or other state, county or municipally owned property. All other property is defined as private.
If an ATV, minibike or UTV has been left after storage or repair work has been completed, refer to Storage-Repair Lien procedures.
Motorboats
Once it has been established by a law enforcement agency that an motorboat has been abandoned, and after specific guidelines for owner notification have been met, a Certificate of Title is issued. The County Treasurer issues abandoned titles to the law enforcement agency under whose jurisdiction the motorboat was abandoned.
A motorboat may be considered abandoned by law enforcement if left unattended:
- more than SEVEN days on private property;
- more than SEVEN days on private property if left initially without permission of the owner or after permission of the owner is terminated;
- more than thirty days in the custody of a law enforcement agency after the agency has sent a letter to the last-registered owner.
- After the abandoned title has been issued, the law enforcement agency is charged with final disposition of the motorboat.
Public property is defined as any public right-of-way, street, highway, alley, park or other state, county or municipally owned property. All other property is defined as private.
Mobile Homes
Once it has been established by a local government unit that a mobile home has been abandoned, and after specific guidelines for owner notification have been met, a Certificate of Title is issued. The County Treasurer issues abandoned titles to the local government unit under whose jurisdiction the mobile home was abandoned.
A mobile home may be considered abandoned by a local governmental unit if
- left in place on private property for more than thirty (30) days after a local government unit, pursuant to an ordinance or resolution, has sent a certified letter to each of the last registered owners and posted a notice on the mobile home stating the mobile home is subject to sale or action or vesting of title.
For purposes of the abandoned title process, mobile home is defined as:
- a moveable or portable dwelling constructed to be towed on its own chasis, connected to utilities, and designed with or without permanent foundation for year-around living. It may consist of one or more units that can be telescoped when towed and expanded later for additional capacity, or of two more units, separately towable but designed to be joined into one integral unit; or,
- a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which in the traveling mode is eight (8) body feet or more in width or forty (40) body feet or more in length, or when erected on site is designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities and includes the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems contained in the structure, except that maufactured homes includes any structure that meets all of the rquirements of this subdivision other than the size requirements and with respect to which the manufacturer voluntarily files a certification required by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and complies with the standards established under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, as such act existed on September 1, 2001, 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.; and,
- does not include a mobile home or manufactured home for which an affidavit of affixture has been recorded.
After the abandoned title has been issued, the local governmental unit is charged with final disposition of the mobile home.
If a mobile homes has been left after storage or repair work has been completed, refer to Storage-Repair Lien procedures.
Motor Vehicles
Once it has been established by a law enforcement agency that a vehicle has been abandoned, and after specific guidelines for owner notification have been met, a Certificate of Title is issued. The County Treasurer issues abandoned titles to the law enforcement agency under whose jurisdiction the vehicle was abandoned.
A motor vehicle may be considered abandoned by law enforcement if
- left unattended with no license plates or valid In-Transit decals affixed thereto, for more than SIX hours on any public property;
- left unattended more than twenty-four hours on any public property, except a portion thereof on which parking is legally permitted;
- left unattended more than forty-eight hours, after the parking of such vehicle shall have become illegal, if left on a portion of a public property on which parking is legally permitted;
- left unattended more than SEVEN days on private property if left initially without permission of the owner or after permission of the owner is terminated;
- left unattended more than thirty days in the custody of a law enforcement agency after the agency has sent a letter to the last-registered owner and lienholder (if applicable).
- removed from private property by a municipality pursuant to a municipal ordinance.
After the abandoned title has been issued, the law enforcement agency is charged with final disposition of the vehicle.
Public property is defined as any public right-of-way, street, highway, alley, park or other state, county or municipally owned property. All other property is defined as private.
If a vehicle has been left after storage or repair work has been completed, refer to Storage-Repair Lien procedures.
If a vehicle has been left on private property, refer to Private Parking Lot Towed Vehicles.
Questions regarding Abandoned Vehicles may be addressed by email or by phone at (402) 471-3918.
Powered by