31-13-104. Abandonment on highway or property; removal; transportable homes; title to vehicle; notice of intent to impound; notice of towing.

(a) No person shall abandon a vehicle upon any highway.

(b) No person shall abandon a vehicle upon any public or private property without the express consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property.

(c) Any police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle has been abandoned may remove the vehicle, or cause it to be removed, at the expense of the owner to a place of impoundment designated by the county commissioners of the county in which the vehicle is impounded. Removal of an abandoned vehicle from private property by a police officer shall be upon the written request, upon a form prescribed by the department, of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property. The police department having jurisdiction shall immediately send a written report of the removal by a police officer to the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded, which report shall include a description of the vehicle, the date, time and place of removal, the grounds for removal, and place of impoundment of the vehicle. The sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded shall submit the report provided by the police department to the department with a determination of the retail value of the vehicle as required in this subsection. Upon receipt of a report as provided, the department shall provide written notification to the vehicle owner of record and to lienholders of record, stating the grounds for removal by a police officer and the name of the place of impoundment of the vehicle. Notice shall not be required if the retail value of an abandoned vehicle removed by a police officer is less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) as determined by the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded. As to vehicles not registered in this state, the department shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner or any lienholder of removal by a police officer and the place of impoundment of the vehicle. The department shall forward a copy of the notice to the owner or person in charge of the place of impoundment of a vehicle removed by a police officer. As used in this subsection, "abandoned vehicle" means as defined in W.S. 31-13-101(a)(x)(A) and (B).

(d) A transportable home impounded pursuant to this section shall be disposed of in accordance with W.S. 31-13-109.

(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, title to any vehicle impounded by a police officer not reclaimed by the registered owner or any lienholder within thirty (30) days of the notice provided by subsection (c) of this section shall vest with the county government where the vehicle is impounded.

(f) A notice of intent to impound an abandoned vehicle by a police officer shall be placed in a prominent position on a vehicle when a police officer reasonably believes it is abandoned. The notice of intent shall remain on the vehicle at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to removal if abandoned on a highway and five (5) days if abandoned on public or private property and impounded by a police officer.

(g) Any towing and recovery service that tows a vehicle which is not otherwise under the control of a city, town or county and is defined as abandoned under W.S. 31-13-101(a)(x) shall:

(i) Notify the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is located within thirty (30) minutes upon completion of tow and report a complete description of the vehicle, including license plate number and state indication, make, year, model, vehicle identification number, and the date, time and place of towing and the current location of the vehicle; and

(ii) Request a title search report upon a form prescribed by the department within three (3) business days after towing the vehicle. Upon receipt of the request, the department shall make reasonable efforts to identify the owner and any lienholders of record. The department shall forward the information obtained to the towing and recovery service within five (5) business days of receipt of the request for any vehicle registered in Wyoming or within seven (7) business days of receipt of the request for any vehicle registered in another jurisdiction; and

(iii) Send, by certified mail, notice to the latest known address of the vehicle owner and all lienholders of record, if identified by the department under paragraph (ii) of this subsection or by other means, which shall notify the owner and all lienholders that the vehicle has been towed and may be disposed of pursuant to this act. The notice shall be sent within three (3) business days of identifying of the latest known address of the vehicle owner and all lienholders of record.