(a) A police department may take into custody any motor vehicle found abandoned, immobile, unattended, or used in curbstoning on public or private property; provided, that any motor vehicle used in curbstoning on residential property may not be taken into custody unless the police department provides notice on the motor vehicle at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the seizure.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-16-104

  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
(b) A police department may employ its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or hire persons, equipment, and facilities for the purpose of removing, preserving, and storing motor vehicles that have been abandoned, immobile, unattended, or used in curbstoning.
(c) Any motor vehicle used in curbstoning is subject to seizure and forfeiture in the same manner as is provided by law for seizure and forfeiture of other items under title 40, chapter 33.
(d) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall limit a local government’s initiative for more restrictive requirements regarding the sale of curbstoned vehicles.