Arizona Laws 28-4838. Report; abandoned and seized vehicles; violation; classification
A. A person who has knowledge and custody of a vehicle that is either lost, stolen, abandoned or otherwise unclaimed, that has been seized pursuant to law or removed from the right-of-way of any highway, road, street or other public thoroughfare or other public property by order of an officer of the department of public safety, sheriff’s officer or city or town police officer and that has been held for a period of ten days and a claim has not been made for the return or possession of the vehicle by a person legally entitled to the vehicle shall do all of the following within five days after the expiration of the ten day retention period:
Attorney's Note
Under the Arizona Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 misdemeanor | up to 4 months | up to $750 |
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 28-4838
- Abandoned vehicle: means a vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is of a type subject to registration under this title whether lost, stolen, abandoned or otherwise unclaimed and that has been abandoned on a public highway, public property or elsewhere in this state, including private property. See Arizona Laws 28-4801
- Department: means the department of transportation acting directly or through its duly authorized officers and agents. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Director: means the director of the department of transportation. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way if a part of the way is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Officer: means any police officer or other law enforcement officer. See Arizona Laws 28-4801
- Owner: means :
(a) A person who holds the legal title of a vehicle. See Arizona Laws 28-101
- Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Property: includes both real and personal property. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Right-of-way: when used within the context of the regulation of the movement of traffic on a highway means the privilege of the immediate use of the highway. See Arizona Laws 28-101
1. Submit an electronic abandoned vehicle report to the director that is on a form prescribed by the director and that contains all of the following:
(a) A complete description of the vehicle.
(b) The vehicle license or registration number, if any.
(c) The circumstances of the person’s or officer’s removal or custody.
(d) Other information the director requires.
2. Provide a completed electronic application for transfer of ownership on a form prescribed by the director.
3. Submit a vehicle identification form as prescribed by the director.
4. If applicable, submit the authorization form signed by the private property owner as prescribed in section 28-4834.
5. Pay all fees prescribed by this title.
B. Except if the vehicle inspection as prescribed in section 28-4834 is not completed within the time prescribed in subsection A of this section due to no fault of the person, a person who fails to submit the documents for the purpose of transferring ownership by the time specified in subsection A of this section:
1. Forfeits all claims for towing and storing the vehicle.
2. Is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.