§ 31-42-4. Auction of abandoned motor vehicles.
(a) If an abandoned motor vehicle has not been reclaimed as provided for in § 31-42-3, the police department shall sell the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.
The purchaser of the motor vehicle shall take title to the motor vehicle free and
clear of all liens and claims of ownership, shall receive a sales receipt and bill
of sale from the police department, and shall be entitled to register the purchased
vehicle. The sales receipt at a sale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of
transferring the vehicle to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling,
and, in that case
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§ 31-42-4. Auction of abandoned motor vehicles.
(a) If an abandoned motor vehicle has not been reclaimed as provided for in § 31-42-3, the police department shall sell the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.
The purchaser of the motor vehicle shall take title to the motor vehicle free and
clear of all liens and claims of ownership, shall receive a sales receipt and bill
of sale from the police department, and shall be entitled to register the purchased
vehicle. The sales receipt at a sale shall be sufficient title only for purposes of
transferring the vehicle to a demolisher for demolition, wrecking, or dismantling,
and, in that case no further registration of the vehicle shall be necessary.
(b) From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned motor vehicle, the police department
shall reimburse itself for the expenses of the auction, the costs of towing, preserving,
and storing the vehicle which resulted from placing the abandoned motor vehicle in
custody, and all notices and publication costs incurred pursuant to § 31-42-3. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale shall be held for the owner of the vehicle
or entitled lienholder for ninety (90) days, and then shall be deposited in a special
abandoned motor vehicle fund which shall remain available for the payment of auction,
towing, preserving, storage, and all notice and publication costs which result from
placing other abandoned vehicles in custody, whenever the proceeds from a sale of
the other abandoned motor vehicles are insufficient to meet these expenses and costs.
(c) Whenever the chief finance officer of the city or town finds that moneys in the abandoned
motor vehicle fund are in excess of reserves likely to be needed, he or she may transfer
the excess to the general fund. But in the event there are additional claims against
the abandoned motor vehicle fund, if the abandoned motor vehicle fund is temporarily
exhausted, these claims shall be met from the general fund to the limit of any transfers
previously made to it pursuant to this section.