§ 27-50-1206 - Notice to storage firm.
27-50-1206. Notice to storage firm.
(a) (1) Any order issued by a law enforcement officer to a licensed towing and storage firm to remove and store an unattended or abandoned vehicle shall provide information supplied from the records of the Office of Motor Vehicle, Arkansas Crime Information Center records, or the motor vehicle records of any other state indicating the name and address of the last registered owner, the name and address of the holder of any recorded lien on the vehicle, and the vehicle identification or serial number of the vehicle.
(2) If there is evidence in the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is registered in another state, the information shall be supplied from the motor vehicle records of that state.
(3) (A) If a law enforcement officer or other official issues a hold against the release of the vehicle, the law enforcement officer's order to remove and store the vehicle shall include a written explanation for the issuance of the hold.
(B) When the hold on the vehicle is released, the law enforcement officer or other official who issued the hold shall provide written notice of the release to the towing and storage firm.
(b) (1) In the event that readily available records fail to disclose the name of the owner or any lienholder of record, the law enforcement officer or his or her agency shall notify in writing the towing and storage firm that, after receiving the notice, shall perform a good faith search to locate documents or other evidence of ownership and lienholder information on or within the unattended or abandoned vehicle.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, a "good faith search" means that the towing and storage firm checks the unattended or abandoned property for any type of license plate, license plate record, temporary permit, inspection sticker, decal, or other evidence that may indicate a possible state of registration and title.
(3) The towing and storage firm shall provide in writing to the law enforcement officer or agency the results of the search and, if appropriate, certify that a physical search of the unattended or abandoned vehicle disclosed that no ownership documents were found and that a good faith search was conducted.
(c) (1) Within not more than twenty-four (24) hours from the order to remove, the officer involved or his or her agency shall contact the towing and storage firm advising of any unusual circumstances causing the delay of the required information that was not available to the officer at the time the order to remove was issued.
(2) The officer or agency shall provide the delayed information immediately upon receipt.
(d) When a vehicle is removed pursuant to this subchapter by law enforcement and is subject to impoundment or seizure pursuant to police power or any lawful order of court, the law enforcement officer shall provide to the towing and storage firm a written statement setting forth the conditions of release of the vehicle.