CHAPTER 563
S.P. 740 - L.D. 2064
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §603, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Abandoned vehicles declared total loss. A towing company is exempt from a title fee if:
A. The towing company tows a vehicle at the request of a law enforcement officer;
B. The towing company declares a vehicle a total loss while claiming the vehicle pursuant to chapter 15, subchapter III;
C. The Secretary of State notifies the vehicle owner that the vehicle is claimed under the abandoned vehicle law as required in section 1854; and
D. The Secretary of State requests the title fee under subsection 1, paragraph E from the vehicle owner.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §668, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1995, c. 482, Pt. A, §15, is further amended to read:
3. Certificate delivered. When the Secretary of State suspends or revokes a certificate of title, certificate of salvage, certificate of lien or certificate of registration, the owner or person in possession of that document, immediately upon receiving notice of the suspension or revocation, shall deliver the document and registration plates to the Secretary of State. If the owner or person in possession of that document fails to deliver the document and registration plates to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State may suspend the person's privilege to title or register a vehicle.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1854, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1999, c. 137, §1, is further amended to read:
3. Response. On receipt of the notification, 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 $23 to the Secretary of State to transfer the title. A copy of this letter must be provided to the person claiming ownership.
Effective July 25, 2002, unless otherwise indicated.
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