Brief Description: Changing abandoned vehicle auction notice requirements.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Simpson, Woods and Lovick).

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

When an abandoned vehicle is towed, the tow truck operator must file an abandoned vehicle report with the Department of Licensing. Within 24 hours after the tow truck operator receives information on the owners from the Department of Licensing, the tow truck operator must send by certified mail, with return receipt requested, a notice of custody and sale to the legal and registered owners.

After 15 days from the date of mailing the notice of custody and sale, if the vehicle remains unclaimed and has not been listed as a stolen vehicle, or if a suspended license impound has been directed, then the tow truck operator may conduct a sale of the vehicle at public auction. The tow truck operator must publish a notice of the date, place and time of the auction in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the vehicle is located. This is required for not less than three days and no more than 10 days before the date of the auction.

The notice must contain a description of the vehicle including the make, model, year, and license number and that a three-hour public viewing period is available prior to the auction.

Summary:

A newspaper of general circulation used to publish notice of a vehicle auction may be a commercial, widely circulated, free, classified advertisement circular not affiliated with the registered tow truck operator.

The public notice of a vehicle auction must include a method to contact the tow truck operator.

The viewing period prior to the auction is changed from three hours prior to one hour prior if 25 or fewer vehicles are to be auctioned, two hours if more than 25 and fewer than 50 vehicles are to be auctioned, and three hours if 50 or more vehicles are to be auctioned.

The public notice must also include the length of the viewing period prior to the auction.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   1
Senate   48   1

Effective: June 7, 2006