Oregon Statutes 819.160 – Lien for towing
(1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a person shall have a lien on the vehicle and its contents if the person, at the request of an authority described under ORS § 819.140, tows any of the following vehicles:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 819.160
- Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
(a) An abandoned vehicle appraised at a value of more than $500 by a person who holds a certificate issued under ORS § 819.480.
(b) A vehicle taken into custody under ORS § 819.110 or 819.120, unless it is an abandoned vehicle appraised at a value of $500 or less by a person who holds a certificate issued under ORS § 819.480.
(c) A vehicle left parked or standing in violation of ORS § 811.555 or 811.570.
(2) A lien established under this section shall be on the vehicle and its contents for the just and reasonable charges for the towing service performed and any storage provided. However, the storage charge is limited subject to ORS § 98.812 (3). A lien described under this section does not attach:
(a) To the contents of any vehicle taken from public property until 15 days after taking the vehicle into custody.
(b) To the contents of any vehicle that is taken into custody for violation of ORS § 811.555 or 811.570.
(3) A person that tows any vehicle at the request of an authority under ORS § 819.110 or 819.120 shall transmit by first class mail with a certificate of mailing, no later than the third business day after the vehicle and its contents are placed in storage, written notice, approved by the authority, containing information on the procedures necessary to obtain a hearing under ORS § 819.190. The notice shall be provided to the owner, a person entitled to possession or any person with an interest recorded on the title to the vehicle. This subsection does not apply to a person that tows an abandoned vehicle that is appraised at a value of $500 or less by a person who holds a certificate issued under ORS § 819.480. [1983 c.338 § 422; 1985 c.16 § 223; 1993 c.326 § 5; 1993 c.385 § 6; 1995 c.79 § 379; 1995 c.758 § 12; 2007 c.538 § 15; 2009 c.11 § 99; 2009 c.371 § 10; 2019 c.547 § 4]