(a)  If an abandoned, abandoned and of no value, or unattended vehicle, as defined in § 39-12.1-2, is at least ten (10) years old or less than ten (10) years old and has an altered vehicle identification number; has not been registered within one year; has no established fair market value; and would not pass a safety inspection pursuant to chapter 38 of Title 31, a certificated tower shall not be required to comply with the provisions of § 39-12.1-4.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 39-12.1-5

  • Certificated tower: means a carrier possessing a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the public utilities administrator for the purpose of transporting vehicles by tow-away method. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12.1-2
  • 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.
  • Police department: means the police department of a city or town or the Rhode Island state department. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12.1-2
  • Unattended vehicle: means any vehicle other than an "abandoned vehicle" or "abandoned vehicle of no value" that meets the following criteria:

    (i)  Left unoccupied in a place or for a time period prohibited by law or municipal ordinance or so as to cause traffic congestion or hazard; or

    (ii)  From which the operator or owner thereof has been removed by any member of a police department in the performance of his or her official duties; or

    (iii)  Left on public or private property without the consent of the owner or person in control thereof, or one having the exclusive right to the use thereof. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12.1-2

  • Vehicle: means any motor vehicle as defined in § 39-12-2. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-12.1-2

(b)  If a police department takes possession or orders the removal of a vehicle that meets the requirements of this section, the police department shall request that the state police conduct a computer search to determine if the vehicle is a stolen vehicle. The police department shall remove the vehicle identification number from the vehicle and shall maintain a record of all numbers removed from vehicles for a period of two (2) years.

(c)  A police department that complies with the provisions of this section may dispose of the vehicle in accordance with the provisions of § 39-12.1-9 five (5) days after the removal of the vehicle identification number.

History of Section.
P.L. 1994, ch. 328, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 114; P.L. 2020, ch. 79, art. 1, § 6.