New Hampshire Statewide Rule
New Hampshire Abandoned Vehicle Removal Statute
Key Facts
- Statute
- RSA 262:31-40
- Public way threshold
- 24 hours
- Private property
- Without consent
- Resolution
- Tow, notice, auction
Summary
New Hampshire RSA 262 governs abandoned vehicles statewide, allowing law enforcement and authorized parties to remove vehicles left on public ways or private property without consent, with notice and lien procedures uniformly applied.
No person shall abandon a motor vehicle, registered or unregistered, on any way or on any property other than his or her own without the permission of the owner or lessee of said property or, in the case of public property, of the police department having jurisdiction over the property and no person shall abandon a vehicle at a storage facility after being notified in person or by registered or certified mail to redeem the vehicle. For the purposes of this section, a vehicle shall be considered abandoned if it has been left for more than 24 hours without the appropriate permission being given or at a storage facility after having been given 10 days' notice to redeem it.
Full Breakdown
Under RSA 262:31-40, a vehicle is presumed abandoned if left on a public way for 24+ hours or on private property without consent. Law enforcement or property owners (with police notification) may have vehicles towed to a custodian. The custodian must notify owners and lienholders within specified timeframes. Owners can reclaim by paying towing and storage fees. After statutory notice periods, unclaimed vehicles can be sold at public auction. The state framework preempts municipal abandonment definitions, though local towing fees and impound lots vary.
Violations & Penalties
Owners face towing fees, daily storage charges, administrative costs, and potential title forfeiture. Failure to reclaim within statutory periods authorizes auction sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a vehicle considered abandoned in New Hampshire?
Can a private property owner have a vehicle towed?
Sources
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