§ 39-12.1-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning as set forth in
this section.
(1) "Abandoned vehicle� means (i) A vehicle that is inoperable and more than eight (8)
years old and is left unattended on public property for more than forty-eight (48)
hours; or (ii) A vehicle that has remained illegally on public property for a period
of more than three (3) days; or (iii) A vehicle that has remained on private property
without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than
three (3) days.
(2) "Abandoned vehicle of no value� means (i) a motor vehicle that is inoperable and more
than ten (10) years old and is left unattended on public property for more than forty-eight
(48) hours; or (ii) A vehicle that has remained illegally on public property for a
period of more than three (3) days; or (iii) A vehicle that has remained on private
property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for
more than three (3) days, and meets the following criteria:
(A) The vehicle has no evidence of current registration in or upon the vehicle; and
(B) The vehicle has a fair market value of five hundred dollars ($500) or less; and
(C) The vehicle does not have a valid inspection sticker.
(3) "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.
(4) "Legal owner� means the person who has obtained ownership of a vehicle by any legal
means but has not caused the vehicle to be registered with the division of motor vehicles.
(5) "Police department� means the police department of a city or town or the Rhode Island
state department.
(6) "Possessory lien� means the right to retain possession of a vehicle and motor vehicle
registration plates against all claims of the owner and/or security lien or until
all charges are paid for recovery, towing, storage in accordance with the certificated
tower's tariff.
(7) "Private trespass� means the unattended presence of a vehicle on private property
without the consent of the owner or person in control thereof.
(8) "Registered owner� means the person recorded in the division of motor vehicles as
being the one to whom the registration of the vehicle was issued.
(9) "Tow truck� means any motor vehicle designed and/or ordinarily used for the purpose
of towing or removing vehicles or assisting disabled motor vehicles.
(10) "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.
(11) "Vehicleâ€� means any motor vehicle as defined in § 39-12-2.
(12) "Vehicle survey reportâ€� means a report printed in the form provided in § 31-42-1(f).