§ 31-42-7 - Disposal to demolishers.
SECTION 31-42-7
§ 31-42-7 Disposal to demolishers. –(a) Any person, firm, corporation, or unit of government upon whose property orin whose possession is found any abandoned motor vehicle, or any person beingthe owner of a motor vehicle whose registration is faulty, lost, or destroyedmay apply to the police department of the jurisdiction in which the vehicle issituated for authority to sell, give away, or dispose of the vehicle to ademolisher.
(b) The application shall set out the name and address of theapplicant, the year, make, model, and serial number of the motor vehicle, ifascertainable, together with any other identifying features, and shall containa concise statement of the facts surrounding the abandonment, or that theregistration of the motor vehicle is lost or destroyed, or the reasons for thedefect in registration of the owner. The applicant shall execute an affidavitstating that the facts alleged in it are true and that no material fact hasbeen withheld.
(c) If the police department finds that the application isexecuted in proper form, and shows that the motor vehicle has been abandonedupon the property of the applicant or if it shows that the motor vehicle is notabandoned but that the applicant appears to be the rightful owner, the policedepartment shall follow the notification procedures set forth in § 31-42-3.
(d) If the abandoned motor vehicle is not reclaimed inaccordance with § 31-42-3, the police department shall give the applicanta certificate of authority to sell the motor vehicle to any demolisher fordemolition, wrecking, or dismantling. The demolisher shall accept thecertificate in lieu of the registration of the motor vehicle.
(e) Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter, thegeneral laws of the state of Rhode Island, public laws of the state of RhodeIsland, or municipal ordinances, any person, firm, corporation, or unit ofgovernment upon whose property or in whose possession is found any abandonedmotor vehicle, or any person who is the owner of a motor vehicle whoseregistration is faulty, lost, or destroyed, may dispose of the motor vehicle toa demolisher without a registration and without notification procedure of§ 31-42-3, if the motor vehicle is over eight (8) years old or has noengine or is otherwise totally inoperable. Any demolisher who purchases oracquires any motor vehicle for the purpose of demolition and removal maydemolish it on the premises where they are located.