Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/168B/full
Timestamp: 2020-07-15 18:29:06
Document Index: 529232086

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 3']

﻿ Ch. 168B MN Statutes
CHAPTER 168B. ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES; TOWING
168B.01 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
168B.02 [Repealed, 1995 c 137 s 13]
168B.03 VIOLATION TO ABANDON MOTOR VEHICLE.
168B.04 AUTHORITY TO IMPOUND VEHICLES.
168B.045 TOWED MOTOR VEHICLES.
168B.05 [Repealed, 1995 c 137 s 13]
168B.051 SALE; WAITING PERIODS.
168B.055 NOTICE FOR REMOVAL FROM VEHICLE SERVICE FACILITY.
168B.07 RIGHT TO RECLAIM.
168B.087 OPERATOR'S DEFICIENCY CLAIM; CONSENT TO SALE.
168B.09 DISPOSAL AUTHORITY.
168B.101 AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY.
168B.11 [Repealed, 1981 c 356 s 377]
168B.12 [Repealed, 1973 c 649 s 9]
168B.13 [Repealed, 1973 c 649 s 9]
168B.14 REGULATION OF VEHICLE TOWERS LIMITED.
168B.16 FLASHING LIGHT ON TOW TRUCK.
Abandoned motor vehicles constitute a hazard to the health and welfare of the people of the state in that such vehicles can harbor noxious diseases, furnish shelter and breeding places for vermin, and present physical dangers to the safety and well-being of children and other citizens. Abandoned motor vehicles and other scrap metals also constitute a blight on the landscape of the state and therefore a detriment to the environment. The abandonment and retirement of motor vehicles and other scrap metals constitutes a waste of a valuable source of useful metal. It is therefore in the public interest that the present accumulation of abandoned motor vehicles and other scrap metals be eliminated, that future abandonment of motor vehicles and other scrap metals be prevented, that the expansion of existing scrap recycling facilities be developed and that other acceptable and economically useful methods for the disposal of abandoned motor vehicles and other forms of scrap metal be developed.
1971 c 734 s 1
Any person who abandons a motor vehicle on any public or private property, without the consent of the person in control of such property, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
1971 c 734 s 3
Subdivision 1.Abandoned or junk vehicles.
Units of government and peace officers may take into custody and impound any abandoned or junk vehicle.
Subd. 2.Unauthorized vehicles.
(a) Units of government and peace officers may take into custody and impound any unauthorized vehicle under section 168B.035.
(b) A vehicle may also be impounded after it has been left unattended in one of the following public or private locations for the indicated period of time:
(1) in a public location not governed by section 168B.035:
(i) on a highway and properly tagged by a peace officer, four hours;
(ii) located so as to constitute an accident or traffic hazard to the traveling public, as determined by a peace officer, immediately;
(iii) located so as to constitute an accident or traffic hazard to the traveling public within the Department of Transportation's eight-county metropolitan district, as determined by an authorized employee of the department's freeway service patrol, immediately; or
(iv) that is a parking facility or other public property owned or controlled by a unit of government, properly posted, four hours; or
(2) on private property:
(i) that is single-family or duplex residential property, immediately;
(ii) that is private, nonresidential property, properly posted, immediately;
(iii) that is private, nonresidential property, not posted, 24 hours;
(iv) that is private, nonresidential property of an operator of an establishment for the servicing, repair, or maintenance of motor vehicles, five business days after notifying the vehicle owner by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the property owner's intention to have the vehicle removed from the property; or
(v) that is any residential property, properly posted, immediately.
1971 c 734 s 4; 1995 c 137 s 2; 2004 c 224 s 5; 2008 c 287 art 1 s 32; 2012 c 287 art 3 s 64
A person who tows and stores a motor vehicle at the request of a law enforcement officer shall have a lien on the motor vehicle for the value of the storage and towing and the right to retain possession of the motor vehicle until the lien is lawfully discharged. This section does not apply to tows of vehicles parked in violation of snow emergency regulations.
1989 c 256 s 2; 2010 c 351 s 63; 2012 c 287 art 3 s 64
Subdivision 1.Sale after 15 days.
An impounded vehicle is eligible for disposal or sale under section 168B.08, 15 days after notice to the owner, if the vehicle is determined to be:
(1) a junk vehicle, except that it may have a valid, current registration plate and still be eligible for disposal or sale under this subdivision; or
(2) an abandoned vehicle.
Subd. 1a.Sale 15 days after notice by certified mail.
An unauthorized vehicle impounded by the city of Minneapolis or by the city of St. Paul is eligible for disposal or sale under section 168B.08, 15 days after notice is sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered owner, if any, of the unauthorized vehicle and to all readily identifiable lienholders of record. If, before the expiration of the 15-day period following notice of taking, the registered owner or lienholder of record delivers to the impound lot operator a written statement of intent to reclaim the vehicle, the vehicle is not eligible for disposal or sale until 45 days after the notice of taking, if the owner or lienholder has not reclaimed under section 168B.07. Notwithstanding section 168B.06, subdivision 3, a second notice shall not be required.
Subd. 2.Sale after 45 days or title transfer.
(a) If an unauthorized vehicle is impounded, other than by the city of Minneapolis or the city of St. Paul, the impounded vehicle is eligible for disposal or sale under section 168B.08, the earlier of:
(1) 45 days after notice to the owner; or
1995 c 137 s 3; 1997 c 108 s 1,2; 2008 c 350 art 1 s 19
An owner or agent of an owner of private, nonresidential property described in section 168B.04, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (2)(iv), is authorized to remove or cause the removal of an unauthorized vehicle from that property after providing five-day notice to the vehicle owner by certified mail, return receipt requested, that the vehicle will be removed from the property. Notification must include identification of the registration plate number, the vehicle identification number, and the make, model, and color of the vehicle. The owner or agent of an owner of property upon which a motor vehicle is unauthorized may cause the vehicle to be removed by a towing service under this section without incurring any civil liability to the owner of the unauthorized vehicle. Vehicles removed pursuant to a complaint of the owner or agent of the owner of private property must be disposed of as provided in sections 168B.051 to 168B.10.
2004 c 224 s 6
(a) When an impounded vehicle is taken into custody, the unit of government or impound lot operator taking it into custody shall give written notice of the taking within five days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, to the registered vehicle owner and any lienholders.
(5) state that a vehicle owner who provides to the impound lot operator documentation from a government or nonprofit agency or legal aid office that the owner is homeless, receives relief based on need, or is eligible for legal aid services, has the unencumbered right to retrieve any and all contents without charge.
1971 c 734 s 6; 1973 c 649 s 3; 1995 c 137 s 4; 1997 c 70 s 1; 1997 c 108 s 3; 2008 c 350 art 1 s 20,21; 2010 c 257 s 1; 2010 c 351 s 25
Subdivision 1.Payment of charges.
The owner or any lienholder of an impounded vehicle shall have a right to reclaim such vehicle from the unit of government or impound lot operator taking it into custody upon payment of all towing and storage charges resulting from taking the vehicle into custody within 15 or 45 days, as applicable under section 168B.051, subdivision 1, 1a, or 2, after the date of the notice required by section 168B.06.
Subd. 2.Lienholder.
Nothing in sections 168B.01 to 168B.101 shall be construed to impair any lien of a garagekeeper under the laws of this state, or the right of a lienholder to foreclose. For the purposes of this section "garagekeeper" is an operator of a parking place or establishment, an operator of a motor vehicle storage facility, or an operator of an establishment for the servicing, repair, or maintenance of motor vehicles.
(2) "relief based on need" includes, but is not limited to, receipt of MFIP and Diversionary Work Program, medical assistance, general assistance, emergency general assistance, Minnesota supplemental aid, MSA-emergency assistance, MinnesotaCare, Supplemental Security Income, energy assistance, emergency assistance, food stamps, earned income tax credit, or Minnesota working family tax credit.
1971 c 734 s 7; 1980 c 509 s 57; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 1; 1995 c 137 s 5; 1997 c 108 s 4; 1997 c 251 s 4; 2008 c 350 art 1 s 22,23; 2010 c 351 s 26; 2016 c 158 art 2 s 41
Subdivision 1.Deficiency claim.
(a) The nonpublic impound lot operator has a deficiency claim against the registered owner of the vehicle for the reasonable costs of services provided in the towing, storage, and inspection of the vehicle minus the proceeds of the sale or auction.
(b) The claim for storage costs may not exceed the costs of:
(1) 25 days storage, for a vehicle described in section 168B.051, subdivision 1; and
(2) 55 days storage, for a vehicle described in section 168B.051, subdivision 2.
[Repealed, 2008 c 350 art 1 s 97]
1995 c 137 s 7
Subdivision 1.Units of government.
A unit of government may contract with others or may utilize its own equipment and personnel for the inventory of impounded motor vehicles and abandoned scrap metal and, if no bids are received, may utilize its own equipment and personnel for the collection, storage and transportation of these vehicles and abandoned scrap metal; provided, however, that a unit of government may utilize its own equipment and personnel for the collection and storage of not more than five abandoned or unauthorized vehicles without advertising for or receiving bids in any 120-day period.
Subd. 2.Local laws.
Units of government may adopt ordinances and regulations to control the matter subject in accordance with sections 168B.01 to 168B.101, so long as the ordinances and regulations are not less stringent than the provisions of sections 168B.01 to 168B.101 or the rules of the agency.
1971 c 734 s 9; 1973 c 649 s 5; 1975 c 223 s 2; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 1; 1995 c 137 s 8
The agency may contract with others or use its own personnel to study programs for the control of motor vehicle waste, junk and abandoned motor vehicles, or other scrap metal, or any combination of these; or to develop public informational material and programs relating to the proper disposal of motor vehicle waste, junk and abandoned motor vehicles, or other scrap metal.
1975 c 223 s 4; 1995 c 137 s 9
(a) "Vehicle tower" means a person engaged in the business of towing or recovering vehicles by means of a crane, hoist, tow bar, tow line, or dolly for the purpose of moving or transporting wrecked, damaged, disabled, replacement, or abandoned vehicles; and
(b) "Municipality" means a statutory or home rule charter city or a town.
Subd. 2.Request by owner.
No municipality may prohibit the operation within its boundaries of a vehicle tower who is not licensed by that municipality and who is responding to a service request from a person who is the owner or operator or the agent of the owner or operator of the motor vehicle for which vehicle towing service is requested.
Subd. 3.Private property.
No vehicle tower may remove a motor vehicle by towing, carrying, hauling or pushing from private property except at the request of a person who is the owner or operator or the agent of the owner or operator of the vehicle, or the owner or agent of the owner of the private property.
1983 c 115 s 1; 2012 c 287 art 3 s 64
The commissioner of transportation may issue permits to an applicant who pays a single $300 annual fee to cover all tow trucks and towing vehicles owned by the applicant and meets any other conditions prescribed by the commissioner. The permit authorizes the tow truck or towing vehicle, when towing a disabled or damaged vehicle to a place of repair or to a place of safekeeping, to exceed the length and weight limitations of chapter 169.
2008 c 287 art 1 s 58; 2012 c 287 art 3 s 64; 2013 c 127 s 26
A tow truck or towing vehicle must be equipped with flashing or intermittent red and amber lights of a type approved by the commissioner of public safety. The lights must be placed on the dome of the vehicle at the highest practicable point visible from a distance of 500 feet. The flashing red light must be displayed only when the tow truck or towing vehicle is engaged in emergency service on or near the traveled portion of a highway. The flashing amber light may be displayed when the tow truck or towing vehicle is moving a disabled vehicle.
1953 c 103 s 1; 1971 c 491 s 20; 1991 c 112 s 3; 2012 c 287 art 3 s 64