So I get home from a fun and exhausting day at Hersheypark today, and check the mail (didn't get it yesterday) and find a letter from the State College Borough Police. It states, in short, that my 87 Nissan Truck was towed and impounded because it was "abandoned". The truck was parked at a friend's house, with a valid license plate (not insured or registered-it hasnt moved out of the parking lot in 3 months) and my friend has the keys. At first I was miffed, but then I checked the laws on the subject "Title 75, PA Department of Motor Vehicles, Chapter 37, sec. 12 and chapter 73, sec. 05, 06, and 07) and I found the following statements regarding abandonment and its penalties:



§ 7305. Notice to owner and lienholders of abandoned vehicles.



(a) General rule.--Except as provided in section 7309 (relating to salvaging of vehicles valueless except for salvage), the department, upon receipt of notice that an abandoned vehicle has been taken into possession pursuant to this chapter, shall notify by certified mail, return receipt requested, the last known registered owner of the vehicle and all lienholders of record that the vehicle is abandoned.



(b) Contents of notice.--The notice shall:



1. Describe the make, model, title number, vehicle identification number and registration plate number of the abandoned vehicle, if known.

2. State the location where the vehicle is being held.

3. Inform the owner and any lienholders of their right to reclaim the vehicle within 30 days after the date of the notice at the place where the vehicle is being held by the salvor, upon payment of all towing and storage charges and the fee authorized in section 7306 (relating to payment of costs upon reclaiming vehicle).

4. State that the failure of the owner or lienholder to reclaim the vehicle is deemed consent by the owner to the destruction, sale or other disposition of the abandoned vehicle and of all lienholders to dissolution of their liens.



© Notice by publication.--If the identity of the last registered owner and of all lienholders cannot be determined with reasonable certainty, the contents of the notice set forth in subsection (b) shall be published one time in one newspaper of general circulation in the area where the vehicle was abandoned. The notice may contain multiple listings of abandoned vehicles. Notice by publication locally shall be the responsibility of the salvor. The notice shall have the same effect as notice sent by certified mail.



AND



§ 7306. Payment of costs upon reclaiming vehicle.



In the event the owner or lienholder of an abandoned vehicle reclaims the vehicle, the reclaiming party shall pay the costs for towing and storage, plus a fee of $25 of which $10 shall be transmitted to the department by the salvor.

§ 7307. Authorization for disposal of unclaimed vehicles.



The department shall, after the expiration of 30 days from the date of notice sent by certified mail to the registered owner and all lienholders of record or 30 days after publication of notice, where applicable, and upon receipt of a written statement from the holder of the vehicle that the abandoned vehicle has not been reclaimed by the owner or lienholder within the 30-day period, authorize the disposal of the abandoned vehicle in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.











I called them tonight (the impound lot) and told them I was the owner of the vehicle, but they were like "call back tomorrow". So I was thinking that I would either just let the vehicle sit at the impound lot and not do anything about it, or try and sign over the vehicle to the impound lot but NOT actually claim (pick up) the truck. Advice, opinions, etc? Keep in mind that I don't actually want the truck back, which is why it was at a buddy's in the first place, and I want to pay the least amount of money possible. THe legislation cites costs for picking up the vehicle, but none are associated with just leaving the vehicle at the impound lot. Thanks, y'all!

 

Here if you leave it at the lot, they auction it for whatever they can, u get nothing, u pay nothing.

 

That's what I mean...I don't want any money, and I don't want to pay any money, either. But according to the legislation, does it seem that this is what will happen?

 

State College sucks for parking. The apartment complex I lived in when I was there had tow trucks constantly driving around waiting for someone to be parked in the wrong spot or for too long a time.



I think it is only $50 to get it back but then you will run into the same problem when you get it out and park it again. See if they will charge you for keeping it if not then just leave it there.

 

according to the letter, it's $50 plus towing and impound fees, and according to the law, there is no charge for leaving it there...plus, i REALLY dont want the truck lol

 

Then just tell them you will pay the fee's and they can have the truck

 

no, see...the law says i dont have to pay if i just leave it there (apparently)



i have to pay if i want it back!

 

Thats the way it works here.

 

After about 3 months it belongs to the impound lot.

 

what kind of truck is it? does the truck run? and what is the estimated gas mileage it gets if it does run? would you let someone pay the costs of getting the truck back and title transferred to their name and let them have it? i might be interested in it. i live down in central NC and i've been looking for an old beat up pickup truck to drive around.... i'll send ya a PM (if i figure out how... never did it before) to make sure you see this. and if you do see this send me a PM back and let me know. but answer those questions here too, no telling if someone else might want the truck as a beater car. theres no reason for letting the government get it for free when you yourself might could pick up 100 bucks for it, or give it to a fellow RX7 owner.



-Adam