(a) The purpose of this chapter is to eliminate abandoned vehicles which tend to impede traffic in the streets or interfere with the enjoyment of, and reduce the value of, private property, to invite plundering, to create fire hazards and other safety and health hazards to children as well as to adults, to interfere with the comfort and well-being of the public and to create, extend and aggravate urban blight.

(b) Any vehicle that is either:

(1) That vehicles and equipment used or to be used in the construction, operation or maintenance of public utility facilities and which are left in a manner which does not interfere with the normal movement of traffic shall not be considered abandoned vehicles for the purposes of this chapter;

(2) Those vehicles whose owners have properly parked and locked them and have notified the State Police, county police or municipal police, as the case may be, as designated in § 4402 of this title, that the owner desires to leave the vehicle so parked and secured for a period not to exceed 30 days, except that if during such period the vehicle is no longer secured, or, in the opinion of the State Police, county police or municipal police, has become a danger to the public, then the vehicle shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.

(c) As used in this chapter, the term “express highway” or “state highway” or “public highway” shall include any portion of the highway located within the right-of-way lines or, in the case of limited access highway, the denial of access lines, including shoulders and median strip.

21 Del. C. 1953, § 4401; 55 Del. Laws, c. 173; 57 Del. Laws, c. 204; 57 Del. Laws, c. 713, § 1; 65 Del. Laws, c. 46, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 60, §§ 1, 2, 3.