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Maryland Code, Transportation § 25-204

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a)(1) As soon as reasonably possible and within 7 days at most after it takes an abandoned vehicle into custody, a police department shall send a notice, by certified mail, return receipt requested, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service, to:

(i) The last known registered owner of the vehicle; and

(ii) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each secured party, as shown on the records of the Administration.

(2) A police department may send notice to any secured party electronically, if that form of notice is agreed to by the police department, the tower, and the secured party in writing or by electronic communication.

(b) The notice shall:

(1) State that the abandoned vehicle has been taken into custody;

(2) Describe the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle;

(3) Give the location of the facility where the vehicle is held;

(4)(i) Inform the owner and secured party of the owner's and secured party's right to reclaim the vehicle within 3 weeks after the date of the notice, on payment of all towing, preservation, and storage charges resulting from taking or placing the vehicle in custody; or

(ii) In Baltimore City and Montgomery County, subject to subsection (a)(2) of this section, be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and inform the owner and secured party of the owner's and secured party's right to reclaim the vehicle within 11 working days after the receipt of the notice, on payment of all towing, preservation, and storage charges resulting from taking or placing the vehicle in custody; and

(5) State that the failure of the owner or secured party to exercise this right in the time provided is:

(i) A waiver by the owner or secured party of all of the owner's or secured party's right, title, and interest in the vehicle;

(ii) A consent to the sale of the vehicle at public auction; and

(iii) A consent by the owner other than a lessor to the retention of the vehicle for public purposes as provided in § 25-207 of this subtitle.

(c) In Baltimore City, Prince George's County, and Montgomery County, a police department or its agent may seek to recover costs of impoundment, storage, and sale of a vehicle as provided by §§ 25-206.1 and 25-206.2 of this subtitle. If a police department or its agent seeks to apply the provisions of §§ 25-206.1 and 25-206.2 of this subtitle, the notice required by this section shall also state that the failure of the owner or secured party to exercise the right to reclaim the vehicle in the time provided may cause:

(1) Continuing liability of the owner for costs of:

(i) Impoundment;

(ii) Storage within the chargeable limit for storage as provided in § 25-206.1(b) of this subtitle; and

(iii) Sale of the vehicle; and

(2) Denial of any application by the owner to renew the registration of any vehicle as required by § 25-206.2 of this subtitle.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Transportation § 25-204 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/transportation/md-code-trans-sect-25-204/

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