PUBLIC Law, Chapter 240, An Act Regarding Certain Abandoned Vehicles and Notice to the Secretary of State Regarding Those Vehicles

An Act Regarding Certain Abandoned Vehicles and Notice to the Secretary of State Regarding Those Vehicles

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1854, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 150, §3, is further amended to read:

1. Notification in writing. The Except as provided in subsection 1-A, the owner of the premises where an abandoned a vehicle described in section 1851 is located or the owner's agent shall notify the Secretary of State that the owner or the owner's agent is in possession of an abandoned that vehicle. The notification must be in writing and on a form provided by the Secretary of State.

Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §1854, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

1-A. Notification in writing; auto repair and storage facilities. The owner of the premises where a vehicle described in section 1851, subsection 5 or 7 is stored or the owner's agent shall notify the Secretary of State that the owner or the owner's agent is in possession of the vehicle within 14 days after the earliest date on which the vehicle owner is responsible for any unpaid charges for authorized repair or for storage and any related towing expenses incurred by the owner or the owner's agent. The notification must be in writing and on a form provided by the Secretary of State.

Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1854, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 150, §4, is further amended to read:

2. Contents of notification. This A notification under this section must include the vehicle's make, model, year, body type, vehicle identification number and any registration and plates on the vehicle. This notification also must include the date the vehicle came into possession of the owner, the owner's agent or person in charge of the premises where the vehicle is located, under what circumstances the vehicle came into that person's possession and whether the vehicle is salvage.

Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §1854, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 435, §21, is further amended to read:

3. Response. On receipt of the a notification under this section, the Secretary of State shall inform the vehicle owner and lienholder, if any, by regular mail that the vehicle is being claimed under the abandoned vehicle law. The notice to the vehicle owner and lienholder, if any, must identify the vehicle by the year, make, model and vehicle identification number, give the name and address of the party claiming ownership, state the charges against the vehicle that the owner and lienholder, if any, must pay to retrieve the vehicle, and the date that the title or letter of ownership will pass to the new owner. If the party is claiming ownership of the vehicle pursuant to section 603, subsection 6, the notice must inform the vehicle owner and lienholder that the owner must pay to the Secretary of State the fee required in section 603 to transfer the title. A copy of this letter must be provided to the person claiming ownership.

Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §1856, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 46, §3, is further amended to read:

1. Evidence of compliance. A person who has complied with section 1854, subsection 4 shall present evidence of compliance to the Secretary of State immediately after the 14-day notice period. The Secretary of State may not issue a letter of ownership or certificate of title until at least 21 days after the date on which the person who has possession of and control over the vehicle notified the Secretary of State by complying with section 1854, subsections subsection 1 or 1-A and section 1854, subsection 2.

Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §1857, as amended by PL 2011, c. 46, §4, is further amended to read:

§ 1857. Limits

If the notification to the Secretary of State required by section 1854 is made more than 14 days after receipt of a vehicle described in section 1851 or if notification is not submitted to the Secretary of State, the person holding the vehicle may not collect more than 14 days of storage fees. Daily storage charges must be reasonable and total storage charges may not exceed $900 for a 30-day period.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

HP0874 LD 1251	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 240 on - Session - 128th Maine Legislature
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