(a) Application for certificate of salvage.--If an abandoned vehicle is a salvage or nonrepairable vehicle as deemed by a police officer and salvor, the salvor and the police officer shall note that fact in the report to the department required in section 7304 (relating to reports to department of possession of abandoned vehicles) and shall apply for issuance of a certificate of salvage or nonrepairable vehicle as provided for in Subchapter D of Chapter 11 (relating to salvage vehicles, theft vehicles, reconstructed vehicles and flood vehicles).

(b) Notice and issuance of certificate.--If the identity of the last registered owner cannot be determined with reasonable certainty and it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity and addresses of any lienholder, no notice shall be required. Under such circumstances, the department shall upon receipt of the report by the salvor pursuant to section 7304 issue a certificate of salvage as provided in Subchapter D of Chapter 11.

(c) Reimbursement of expenses of salvor.--Within 60 days of the department's receipt of evidence that a salvor has removed an abandoned vehicle upon the request of a police department, the department shall pay to the salvor from the Motor License Fund the sum of $15 for the expenses incurred in the removal and towing of the abandoned vehicle. No portion of the $15 payment or any separate consideration shall be reimbursed or paid to any government agency or municipality by the salvor.

(d) Rights of owners and lienholders.--Issuance by the department of a certificate of salvage, abandoned branded certificate of title or nonrepairable vehicle certificate for a vehicle processed under this section shall operate as a divestiture of all right, title and interest in the vehicle of the owner and all lienholders and any interest in the contents in the vehicle which have not been claimed by the owner.

(e) Police officers and authorized personnel.--Police officers, authorized personnel, their departments or any government agency or municipality shall not assess or accept payment, consideration of any kind or portions of fees outlined in this chapter from any salvor or person for the processing of abandoned vehicles.

(Apr. 16, 1992, P.L.169, No.31, eff. 60 days; Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1411, No.174, eff. 60 days; Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1278, No.152, eff. 60 days)