Sec. 13. (a) If the vehicle is a junk vehicle and the market value of an abandoned vehicle or parts is less than:

(1) one thousand dollars ($1,000); or

(2) in a municipality that has adopted an ordinance under subsection (b), the amount established by the ordinance;

the towing service shall immediately transfer the vehicle to a storage yard. A copy of the abandoned vehicle report and photographs, if applicable, relating to the abandoned vehicle shall be provided to the storage yard. A towing service or storage yard may dispose of an abandoned vehicle not less than thirty (30) days after the date on which the towing service removed the abandoned vehicle. A city, county, or town that operates a storage yard under IC 36-9-30-3 may dispose of an abandoned vehicle to an automobile scrapyard or an automotive salvage recycler upon removal of the abandoned vehicle. The public agency or storage yard disposing of the vehicle shall retain the original records and photographs for at least two (2) years. If the vehicle is demolished, a copy of the abandoned vehicle report shall be forwarded to the bureau by the automobile scrap yard after the vehicle has been demolished.

(b) The legislative body of a municipality (as defined in IC 36-1-2-11) may adopt an ordinance that establishes the market value below which an officer may dispose of a vehicle or parts under subsection (a). However, the market value established by the ordinance may not be more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750).

(c) When the bureau receives the report described in subsection (a), the bureau shall note the status of the vehicle in the records of the bureau.

[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-9-1.1-5(c).]

As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.92-1997, SEC.2; P.L.104-2005, SEC.4; P.L.191-2007, SEC.11; P.L.125-2012, SEC.120.