§ 39-12.1-2 - Definitions.
SECTION 39-12.1-2
§ 39-12.1-2 Definitions. – As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning as setforth in this section.
(1) "Abandoned vehicle" means (i) a vehicle that isinoperable and over eight (8) years old and is left unattended on publicproperty for more than forty-eight (48) hours, or (ii) a vehicle that hasremained illegally on public property for a period of more than three (3) days,or (iii) a vehicle that has remained on private property without the consent ofthe owner or person in control of the property for more than three (3) days.
(2) "Abandoned vehicle of no value" means (i) a motor vehiclethat is inoperable and over ten (10) years old and is left unattended on publicproperty for more than forty-eight (48) hours, or (ii) a vehicle that hasremained illegally on public property for a period of more than three (3) days,or (iii) a vehicle that has remained on private property without the consent ofthe owner or person in control of the property for more than three (3) days,and meets the following criteria:
(A) The vehicle has no evidence of current registration in orupon the vehicle; and
(B) The vehicle has a fair market value of five hundreddollars ($500) or less; and
(C) The vehicle does not have a valid inspection sticker.
(3) "Certificated tower" means a carrier possessing acertificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the public utilitiesadministrator for the purpose of transporting vehicles by tow-away method.
(4) "Legal owner" means the person who has obtained ownershipof a vehicle by any legal means but has not caused the vehicle to be registeredwith the division of motor vehicles.
(5) "Police department" means the police department of a cityor town or the Rhode Island state department.
(6) "Possessory lien" means the right to retain possession ofa vehicle and motor vehicle registration plates against all claims of the ownerand/or security lien or until all charges are paid for recovery, towing,storage in accordance with the certificated tower's tariff.
(7) "Private trespass" means the unattended presence of avehicle on private property without the consent of the owner or person incontrol thereof.
(8) "Registered owner" means the person recorded in thedivision of motor vehicles as being the one to whom the registration of thevehicle was issued.
(9) "Tow truck" means any motor vehicle designed and/orordinarily used for the purpose of towing or removing vehicles or assistingdisabled motor vehicles.
(10) "Unattended vehicle" means any vehicle other than an"abandoned vehicle" or "abandoned vehicle of no value" as which meets thefollowing criteria:
(i) Left unoccupied in a place or for a time periodprohibited by law or municipal ordinance or so as to cause traffic congestionor hazard; or
(ii) From which the operator or owner thereof has beenremoved by any member of a police department in the performance of his or herofficial duties; or
(iii) Left on public or private property without the consentof the owner or person in control thereof, or one having the exclusive right tothe use thereof.
(11) "Vehicle" means any motor vehicle as defined in §39-12-2(m).
(12) "Vehicle survey report" means a report printed in theform provided in § 31-42-1(f).