1. If a sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency discovers that, or receives notification that, a vehicle has been abandoned on public lands, the sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency shall:

(a) Make all practical inquiries to ascertain if the vehicle is stolen by checking the license plate number, vehicle identification number and other available information which will aid in identifying the owner of the vehicle; and

(b) If the vehicle has not been reported as stolen and the sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency is able to determine the identity of the owner of the vehicle, notify the Department of those facts.

2. Upon the receipt of a notice from a sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 and if the registration of the vehicle has not expired, the Department shall send by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, a written notice to the owner of the vehicle stating that the owner must remove or cause the vehicle to be removed from the public lands within 30 days after the date on which the notice was sent.

3. If an owner receives a notice pursuant to subsection 2, the owner may submit to the Department an affidavit which states that the owner has taken action which meets the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 2 of NRS 487.220. If the owner submits such an affidavit, the Department:

(a) Shall maintain a record of the affidavit; and

(b) Shall not suspend the registration of each vehicle currently registered to that owner as otherwise required by subsection 4.

4. If an owner:

(a) Receives a notice pursuant to subsection 2;

(b) Fails to remove or cause the vehicle to be removed within the 30-day period set forth in that notice; and

(c) Does not submit an affidavit as described in subsection 3,

the Department shall suspend the registration of each vehicle currently registered to the owner pursuant to chapter 482 of NRS. For the purposes of this subsection, the determination of the sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency that notified the Department pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 is conclusive as to whether the abandoned vehicle was removed within the 30-day period.

5. If the registration of a vehicle is suspended pursuant to subsection 4, the Department shall reinstate the registration upon receipt from the registered owner of the vehicle of:

(a) An affidavit setting forth that the registered owner caused the removal and disposition of, or proof that the registered owner paid the cost of removal and disposition of, the vehicle discovered abandoned upon public lands; and

(b) If applicable, proof that the registered owner redeemed any lien placed pursuant to NRS 487.270 on the vehicle discovered abandoned on public lands.

6. If a sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency is notified by a person or another governmental entity that a vehicle has been abandoned on public lands, the sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency shall, insofar as practicable and authorized by law, inform the person or entity making such notification of the actions taken by the sheriff’s office or other law enforcement agency pursuant to this section.

(Added to NRS by 2005, 1219)