(a) A person upon whose property or in whose possession is found an abandoned or immobile motor vehicle, or a person being the owner of a motor vehicle whose title certificate is faulty, lost, or destroyed, may apply to the law enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is situated for authority to sell, give away, or dispose of the vehicle to a demolisher.
(b) The application must set out the name and address of the applicant, the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number of the motor vehicle, if ascertainable, together with any other identifying features, and must contain a concise statement of the facts surrounding the abandonment, or that the title of the motor vehicle is lost or destroyed, or the reasons for the defect of title. The applicant must execute an affidavit stating that the facts alleged therein are true and that no material fact has been withheld.
(c) If the law enforcement agency finds that the application is executed in proper form and shows that the motor vehicle has been abandoned or immobile upon the property of the applicant, or if it shows that the motor vehicle is not reported stolen and is not abandoned or immobile but that the applicant appears to be the rightful owner, then the law enforcement agency shall follow the notification procedures set forth in § 55-31-301 or § 55-31-302.
(d) If an abandoned or immobile motor vehicle is not reclaimed in accordance with § 55-31-301 or § 55-31-302, then the law enforcement agency shall give the applicant a certificate of authority to sell the motor vehicle to any demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling. The demolisher shall accept the certificate in lieu of the certificate of title to the motor vehicle.
(e) Notwithstanding this part to the contrary, a person upon whose property or in whose possession is found an abandoned or immobile motor vehicle, or the owner of a motor vehicle whose title certificate is faulty, lost, or destroyed, may dispose of the motor vehicle to a demolisher without the motor vehicle's title and without the notification procedures of § 55-31-301 or § 55-31-302, if the motor vehicle is over ten (10) years old and has no engine or is otherwise totally inoperable.
(f) (1) If a vehicle has an engine, and is properly licensed but otherwise fits the description of this section, then such vehicle left on a public highway or street and towed at the direction of local or state law enforcement officials must be held at least ten (10) days. If, at the end of that period, no claim has been received for the vehicle, then the vehicle may be disposed of in accordance with this section.(2) Subdivision (f)(1) does not apply in counties with a metropolitan form of government, in which counties subsection (e) remains in full force and effect.
(1) If a vehicle has an engine, and is properly licensed but otherwise fits the description of this section, then such vehicle left on a public highway or street and towed at the direction of local or state law enforcement officials must be held at least ten (10) days. If, at the end of that period, no claim has been received for the vehicle, then the vehicle may be disposed of in accordance with this section.
(2) Subdivision (f)(1) does not apply in counties with a metropolitan form of government, in which counties subsection (e) remains in full force and effect.