Connecticut General Statutes 14-150 – Abandoned or unregistered motor vehicles and motor vehicles which are a menace to traffic. Notice. Removal. Storage. Hearing. Lien. Affidavit of compliance. Sale. Regulations re title to abandoned motor vehicles …
(a) Any person who abandons any motor vehicle within the limits of any highway or upon property other than such person’s own without the consent of the owner thereof for a period longer than twenty-four hours shall have committed an infraction and shall be fined not less than eighty-five dollars. The last owner of record of a motor vehicle found abandoned, as shown by the files of the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall be deemed prima facie to have been the owner of such motor vehicle at the time it was abandoned and the person who abandoned the same or caused or procured its abandonment.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 14-150
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Commissioner: includes the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and any assistant to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles who is designated and authorized by, and who is acting for, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles under a designation. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Escheat: Reversion of real or personal property to the state when 1) a person dies without leaving a will and has no heirs, or 2) when the property (such as a bank account) has been inactive for a certain period of time. Source: OCC
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
- Garage: includes every place of business where motor vehicles are, for compensation, received for housing, storage or repair. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Highway: includes any state or other public highway, road, street, avenue, alley, driveway, parkway, place or dedicated roadway for bus rapid transit service, under the control of the state or any political subdivision of the state, dedicated, appropriated or opened to public travel or other use. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
- Motor home: means a vehicular unit designed to provide living quarters and necessary amenities which are built into an integral part of, or permanently attached to, a truck or van chassis. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Motor vehicle: means any vehicle propelled or drawn by any nonmuscular power, except aircraft, motor boats, road rollers, baggage trucks used about railroad stations or other mass transit facilities, electric battery-operated wheel chairs when operated by persons with physical disabilities at speeds not exceeding fifteen miles per hour, golf carts operated on highways solely for the purpose of crossing from one part of the golf course to another, golf-cart-type vehicles operated on roads or highways on the grounds of state institutions by state employees, agricultural tractors, farm implements, such vehicles as run only on rails or tracks, self-propelled snow plows, snow blowers and lawn mowers, when used for the purposes for which they were designed and operated at speeds not exceeding four miles per hour, whether or not the operator rides on or walks behind such equipment, motor-driven cycles, as defined in section 14-286, special mobile equipment, as defined in section 14-165, mini-motorcycles, as defined in section 14-289j, electric bicycles, electric foot scooters and any other vehicle not suitable for operation on a highway. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
- Officer: includes any constable, state marshal, inspector of motor vehicles, state policeman or other official authorized to make arrests or to serve process, provided the officer is in uniform or displays the officer's badge of office in a conspicuous place when making an arrest. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Ordinance: means an enactment under the provisions of section 7-157. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Owner: means any person holding title to a motor vehicle, or having the legal right to register the same, including purchasers under conditional bills of sale. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, limited liability company, association, copartnership, company, firm, business trust or other aggregation of individuals but does not include the state or any political subdivision thereof, unless the context clearly states or requires. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Recreational vehicle: includes the camper, camp trailer and motor home classes of vehicles. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Registration: includes the certificate of motor vehicle registration and the number plate or plates used in connection with such registration. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Registration number: means the identifying number or letters, or both, assigned by the commissioner to a motor vehicle. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- State: means any state of the United States and the District of Columbia unless the context indicates a more specific reference to the state of Connecticut. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
- Vehicle: includes any device suitable for the conveyance, drawing or other transportation of persons or property, whether operated on wheels, runners, a cushion of air or by any other means. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-1
(b) Any inspector of the Department of Motor Vehicles, any officer attached to an organized police department, any enforcement officer of a parking authority authorized under an ordinance adopted pursuant to section 7-204a to enforce parking regulations in the municipality in which it is located or any state police officer upon discovery of any motor vehicle, whether situated within or without any highway of this state, which is a menace to traffic or public health or safety, shall take such motor vehicle into such inspector’s or officer’s custody and cause the same to be taken to and stored in a suitable place.
(c) Any inspector of the Department of Motor Vehicles, any officer attached to an organized police department, any enforcement officer of a parking authority authorized under an ordinance adopted pursuant to section 7-204a to enforce parking regulations in the municipality in which it is located or any state police officer, upon discovery of any motor vehicle apparently abandoned or a motor vehicle without proper registration, whether situated within or without any highway of this state, shall affix to such motor vehicle a notification sticker in a manner so as to be readily visible. This notification sticker shall contain the following information: (1) The date and time the notification sticker was affixed to the motor vehicle; (2) a statement that pursuant to this section, if the motor vehicle is not removed within twenty-four hours of the time the sticker was affixed, it shall be taken into custody and stored at the owner’s expense; (3) the location and telephone number where additional information may be obtained; and (4) the identity of the affixing officer. If the motor vehicle is not removed within such twenty-four-hour period, the affixing department or parking authority shall take such motor vehicle into its custody and cause the same to be stored in a suitable place, except that such department or parking authority shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner of any such motor vehicle which is determined to be stolen prior to taking such vehicle into its custody and shall allow such owner to make arrangements for removal of such vehicle.
(d) If the motor vehicle has no registration marker plates or invalid registration marker plates, and if such inspector or officer makes a determination in good faith that (1) the motor vehicle is apparently abandoned, (2) the market value of such motor vehicle in its current condition is five hundred dollars or less, and (3) the motor vehicle is so vandalized, damaged, or in disrepair as to be unusable as a motor vehicle, title to such motor vehicle shall, upon taking custody of such motor vehicle, immediately vest in the municipality in which the motor vehicle was discovered. Within forty-eight hours of the time that such motor vehicle is taken into custody, the affixing department or parking authority shall notify the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in writing, of the vehicle identification number and a description of the motor vehicle and thereafter shall immediately sell or transfer such motor vehicle to a recycler licensed in accordance with section 14-67l. Upon sale or other disposition of the motor vehicle, the affixing department or parking authority shall give written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person who was the owner of such motor vehicle at the time of abandonment, if known, which notice shall state that the motor vehicle has been sold or otherwise disposed of. The proceeds of the sale or disposition, or the fair market value of the motor vehicle in its current condition, whichever is greater, less the towing and sale or disposal expenses and the amount of any fines due, shall be paid to such person or such person’s representatives, if claimed by such person or such person’s representatives within one year from the date of sale. If such balance is not claimed within such period, it shall escheat to the municipality. If the expenses incurred by the municipality for towing and the sale or disposition of such motor vehicle and any such fines exceed the proceeds of such sale or disposition, such person shall be liable to such municipality for such excess amount.
(e) Within forty-eight hours of the time that a motor vehicle is taken into custody and stored pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section, the affixing department or parking authority shall give written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner and any lienholders of such motor vehicle, if such motor vehicle appears on the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. The notice shall state: (1) That the motor vehicle has been taken into custody and stored, (2) the location of storage of the motor vehicle, (3) that, unless title has already vested in the municipality pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, such motor vehicle may be sold after (A) fifteen days if the market value of such motor vehicle does not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars, or (B) forty-five days if the value of such motor vehicle exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars, and (4) that the owner has a right to contest the validity of such taking by application, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, to the hearing officer named in such notice within ten days from the date of such notice. Such application forms shall be made readily available to the public at all offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles, parking authorities authorized under an ordinance adopted pursuant to section 7-204a to enforce parking regulations and state and local police departments.
(f) (1) The chief executive officer of each town shall appoint a suitable person, who shall not be a member of any state or local police department, to be a hearing officer to hear applications to determine whether or not the towing within such municipality of such motor vehicle was authorized under the provisions of this section. Two or more towns may join in appointing such hearing officer; provided any such hearing shall be held at a location which is as near to the town within which such motor vehicle was towed as is reasonable and practicable. The commissioner shall establish by regulation the qualifications necessary for hearing officers and procedures for the holding of such hearings. If it is determined at such hearing that the vehicle was not a menace to traffic, abandoned or unregistered, as the case may be, the owner of such motor vehicle shall not be liable for any expenses incurred as a result of the taking and storage of such motor vehicle, the lien provisions of this section shall not apply to such owner, and the department which took and stored such motor vehicle shall be liable for such expenses. If the owner, prior to such determination, pays such expenses and the storage charges of such motor vehicle, and it is determined at such hearing that the motor vehicle was not a menace to traffic, abandoned or unregistered, as the case may be, the department or parking authority which took such motor vehicle shall be liable to such owner for the amount paid by such owner. Any person aggrieved by the decision of such hearing officer may, within fifteen days of the notice of such decision, appeal to the superior court for the judicial district wherein such hearing was held.
(2) The chief executive officer of each municipality shall designate a suitable person who shall be responsible for the collection of data concerning abandoned motor vehicles within such municipality and the preparation and submission of periodic reports to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles which shall contain such information as the commissioner may require.
(g) The owner or keeper of any garage or other place where such motor vehicle is stored shall have a lien upon such motor vehicle for such owner’s or keeper’s towing or storage charges, or both, that result from towing or storage under this section.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, if the current market value of such motor vehicle as determined in good faith by such owner or keeper does not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars and such motor vehicle has been stored for a period of not less than fifteen days, such owner or keeper shall, unless an application filed by the owner pursuant to subsection (e) of this section is pending and the owner of such motor vehicle has notified such owner or keeper that such application for hearing has been filed, send a notice of intent to sell that complies with subsection (h) of this section to the commissioner, the owner of such motor vehicle and any known lienholder of record of such motor vehicle within such period. Upon approval by the commissioner of the notice of intent to sell, the commissioner shall issue such owner or keeper an affidavit of compliance. Such owner or keeper shall sell such motor vehicle not less than five business days after the mailing date of the notice of intent to sell, and apply the proceeds of the sale toward such owner’s or keeper’s towing and storage charges.
(2) If the current market value of such motor vehicle as determined in good faith by such owner or keeper exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars and if such motor vehicle has been stored for a period of not less than forty-five days, such owner or keeper shall, unless an application filed by the owner pursuant to subsection (e) of this section is pending and the owner of such motor vehicle has notified such owner or keeper that such application for hearing has been filed, send a notice of intent to sell that complies with subsection (h) of this section to the commissioner, the owner of such motor vehicle and any known lienholder of record of such motor vehicle within such period. Upon approval by the commissioner of the notice of intent to sell, the commissioner shall issue such owner or keeper an affidavit of compliance. Such owner or keeper shall sell such motor vehicle at public auction for cash, at such owner’s or keeper’s place of business not less than five business days after the mailing date of the notice of intent to sell. Such owner or keeper shall apply the proceeds of such sale toward the payment of such owner’s or keeper’s towing and storage charges and the payment of any debt or obligation incurred by the officer who placed such motor vehicle in storage. At any public auction held pursuant to this subsection, such owner or keeper may set a minimum bid equal to the amount of such owner’s or keeper’s charges and obligations with respect to the tow and storage of the motor vehicle. If no such bid is made, such owner or keeper may sell or dispose of such vehicle.
(h) The notice of intent to sell described in subsection (g) of this section shall include the make, model and vehicle identification number of such motor vehicle, the date such motor vehicle was left with the owner or keeper of the garage for storage and by whom and the registration number thereof if any number plates are on such motor vehicle, and shall be placed on file by the commissioner and subject to public inspection. The notice of intent to sell shall be accompanied by a statement to the owner and known lienholder of such motor vehicle indicating the date, time and place of the sale of such motor vehicle, and the manner of the sale, as specified in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (g) of this section. Such owner or keeper shall give such notice and accompanying statement to such motor vehicle owner and lienholder by certified mail, return receipt requested. Such statement shall indicate that any proceeds in excess of such owner’s or keeper’s charges and obligations may be claimed by the owner of such motor vehicle within one year from the date of such sale. The fee for filing such notice of intent and accompanying statement shall be ten dollars. Any sale under the provisions of this section shall be void, unless such owner or keeper provides the notice required by this section.
(i) At the time of a sale conducted under subsection (g) of this section, such owner or keeper shall provide the purchaser of such motor vehicle with the affidavit of compliance issued by the commissioner. Except for a thirty-day period immediately following the date such motor vehicle was placed in storage under subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of this section, or a sixty-day period immediately following the date such motor vehicle was placed in storage under subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of this section, the commissioner may limit the number of days that such owner or keeper may charge for storage of the motor vehicle prior to the time such motor vehicle was sold unless such owner or keeper provides evidence to the commissioner that the storage charges accrued as a result of such owner or keeper’s reliance upon statements or representations made by the owner or lienholder of the motor vehicle or as a result of such owner’s or keeper’s good faith effort to negotiate the return of such motor vehicle to such owner or lienholder.
(j) The owner or keeper of such garage shall report the sales price, storing, towing and repair charges, if any; buyer’s name and address; identification of the vehicle and such other information as may be required in regulations adopted pursuant to this section, to the commissioner within fifteen days after the sale of the motor vehicle. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the amount due such owner or keeper and all expenses connected with such sale, including the expenses of the officer who placed such motor vehicle in storage, shall be paid to the owner of such motor vehicle or such owner’s legal representatives, if claimed by such owner or such owner’s legal representatives at any time within one year from the date of such sale. If such balance is not claimed within said period, it shall escheat to the state.
(k) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this section. The regulations shall (1) specify the circumstances under which title to any motor vehicle abandoned within the limits of any highway may be transferred to any person, firm or corporation towing such vehicle, (2) establish the procedure whereby such person, firm or corporation may obtain title to such motor vehicle, and (3) specify the circumstances under which the owner of a campground may dispose of a motor home or recreational vehicle abandoned on such owner’s property and establishing procedures governing such disposal.