(a) A police department may take any abandoned vehicle into custody. For this purpose, the police department may use its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and except as provided in § 25-115 of this title, use other persons, equipment, and facilities for removing, preserving, and storing abandoned vehicles.

(b) A police department may not authorize the use of a tow truck under subsection (a) of this section unless the tow truck is registered under § 13-920 of this article.