South Dakota state law: abandoned vehicles (SDCL § 32-30-12)

Per SDCL 32-30-12 (Vehicles unattended for more than twenty-four hours), 'a vehicle left unattended on any public road, highway, or highway right-of-way for longer than twenty-four hours without notifying the sheriff, highway patrol office, a peace officer of the municipality, or appropriate municipal officials is considered an abandoned vehicle' and is subject to specific provisions for removal and impoundment. Per SDCL 32-30-12.1 (Modification by municipal ordinance), 'The governing body of any municipality may by ordinance modify or change provisions of [the abandoned vehicle statutes] to meet its needs or clarify the duties of its peace officers.' This is the express statutory delegation allowing South Dakota cities to set 48-hour, 72-hour, 7-day, or other municipal abandoned-vehicle thresholds and to set local notice, redemption, and disposition procedures. Outside corporate limits (in unincorporated rural areas), SDCL Chapter 32-30A (Abandoned Motor Vehicles) governs abandoned-vehicle removal and disposition by the county sheriff, including notice to the registered owner and lienholder, public-sale procedures, and proceeds disposition. Title transfer of abandoned vehicles is administered by the South Dakota Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicles Division) under SDCL Chapter 32-3 (Title and Registration). Junked, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles stored on private residential property are typically regulated by municipal nuisance and property-maintenance ordinances under SDCL Chapter 9-32 (municipal garbage, waste, and nuisance) and SDCL Chapter 11-4 (zoning).

Vehicles in violation of SDCL 32-30-12 are towed at the owner's expense. Statewide tow and storage fees are paid by the registered owner or lienholder upon redemption. If unredeemed within statutory periods, the vehicle may be sold at public sale and title transferred under SDCL Chapter 32-30A. Municipal abandoned-vehicle-on-street violations carry typical fines of $25-$200 per local ordinance.