168B.01 LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 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 […]
168B.011 DEFINITIONS. Subdivision 1. Scope. The terms used in this chapter have the meanings given them in this section. Subd. 2. Abandoned vehicle. (a) “Abandoned vehicle” means a motor vehicle, as defined in section 169.011, that: (1) has remained illegally: (i) for a period of more than 48 hours on any property owned or controlled […]
168B.03 VIOLATION TO ABANDON MOTOR VEHICLE. 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. History: 1971 c 734 s 3
168B.035 TOWING AUTHORIZED. Subdivision 1. Towing authority. For purposes of this section, “towing authority” means: (1) any local authority authorized by section 169.04 to enforce the traffic laws, and a private towing company authorized by a local authority; or (2) an authorized employee of the Department of Transportation’s freeway service patrol within the department’s eight-county […]
168B.04 AUTHORITY TO IMPOUND VEHICLES. 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 […]
168B.045 TOWED MOTOR VEHICLES. 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 […]
168B.051 SALE; WAITING PERIODS. 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 […]
168B.055 NOTICE FOR REMOVAL FROM VEHICLE SERVICE FACILITY. An owner or agent of an owner of private, nonresidential property described in section 168B.04, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), clause (2), item (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 […]
168B.06 NOTICE OF TAKING AND SALE. Subdivision 1. Written notice of impound. (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 […]
168B.07 RIGHT TO RECLAIM. 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 […]
168B.08 DISPOSITION BY IMPOUND LOT. Subdivision 1. Auction or sale. (a) If an abandoned or unauthorized vehicle taken into custody by a unit of government or any impound lot is not reclaimed under section 168B.07, subdivision 1, it may be disposed of or sold at auction or sale when eligible pursuant to sections 168B.06 and […]
168B.087 OPERATOR’S DEFICIENCY CLAIM; CONSENT TO SALE. 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 […]
168B.09 DISPOSAL AUTHORITY. 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 […]
168B.10 CONTRACTS; REIMBURSEMENT BY AGENCY. Subdivision 1. Agency review and approval. If a unit of government enters into a contract with a person licensed by the agency pursuant to this section or a contract pursuant to section 168B.09 the agency may review the contract to determine whether it conforms to the agency’s plan for solid […]
168B.101 AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY. 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, […]
168B.14 REGULATION OF VEHICLE TOWERS LIMITED. Subdivision 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them: (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 […]
168B.15 TOW TRUCK PERMIT. 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 […]
168B.16 FLASHING LIGHT ON TOW TRUCK. 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 […]
