Rhode Island Statewide Rule
Rhode Island Abandoned Vehicle Removal Statewide Procedure
Key Facts
- Statute
- Chapter 31-42
- Public property
- Abandoned after 48 hours
- Private property
- 72 hours without consent
- Disposition
- Auction or salvage
Summary
Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 31-42, the Abandoned Motor Vehicles law, sets uniform statewide procedures for declaring, removing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles on public and private property across all municipalities.
(a) A police department may, upon completion of a vehicle survey report, take into custody any motor vehicle found abandoned on public or private property. A police department may employ its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or authorize persons, equipment, and facilities for the purpose of removing, preserving and storing abandoned motor vehicles. (b) The police shall post or attach to the vehicle, forty-eight (48) hours prior to towing, a notification of an abandoned vehicle indicating the vehicle will be towed.
Full Breakdown
Under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 31-42, a motor vehicle left on public property may be treated as abandoned after more than 48 hours (or three days if left unlawfully), and a vehicle left on private property without the owner's consent for more than three days may be removed. Police or authorized agents may tow the vehicle to a licensed facility. The DMV and registered owner must receive written notice. After statutory waiting periods, unclaimed vehicles may be sold at public auction or transferred to a licensed salvage dealer.
Violations & Penalties
Owners face towing fees, daily storage charges, administrative fees, and loss of the vehicle through public auction or salvage transfer if it goes unclaimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Rhode Island city tow my vehicle sooner?
How will I be notified if my car is declared abandoned?
Sources
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