1.    For any abandoned motor vehicle valued at more than one thousand dollars taken into custody by a unit of government and not reclaimed under section 23.1-15-06, the license plates displayed on the abandoned motor vehicle must be removed and destroyed and thereafter the unit of government may:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 23.1-15-07

  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

a.    Sell the abandoned motor vehicle to the highest bidder at public auction or sale, following reasonable published notice. The purchaser must be given a receipt in a form prescribed by the department of transportation which entitles the purchaser to register the vehicle and receive a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and claims of ownership; or

b.    Obtain a release from the department of transportation which is sufficient title to dispose of the vehicle by a permitted scrap iron processor.

2.    If a commercial towing service takes custody of an abandoned motor vehicle and the vehicle is not reclaimed under section 23.1-15-06, the commercial towing service may obtain a release from the department of transportation which is sufficient title to dispose of the vehicle. The release entitles the commercial towing service to register the vehicle and receive a certificate of title, free and clear of all liens and claims of ownership. The license plates displayed on the abandoned vehicle must be removed and destroyed upon receipt of the new title.

3.    From the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned motor vehicle, the unit of government or the commercial towing service may reimburse itself for the cost of towing, preserving, and storing the vehicle, and for all notice and publication costs incurred under this chapter. Any remainder from the proceeds of a sale must be held for the owner of the vehicle or entitled lienholder or secured parties for ninety days and then must be delivered to the administrator of the state abandoned property office in accordance with chapter 47-30.2.