§ 1604 — Seizure of motor vehicles

An enforcement officer, without process, may seize a motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle found by him or her on which the manufacturer’s serial or motor number or any of the identifying numbers placed on the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle or any of the parts thereof have been obliterated, defaced, or tampered with, or when in his or her judgment the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle has been stolen, and may retain possession of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle until the Commissioner or State’s Attorney of the county where the vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle is found is satisfied as to the rightful ownership thereof. Immediately on the seizure of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle, the officer shall report the same, together with all the facts obtainable by him or her, to the Commissioner, and the officer shall notify the State’s Attorney of the county in which the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle was seized and cause the ownership of the motor vehicle, snowmobile, motorboat, or all-terrain vehicle to be investigated.

Legislative History

(Amended 2007, No. 19, § 5.)