Donation of abandoned or seized vehicles

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, if a vehicle is left unattended for a certain period of time, the vehicle is generally considered abandoned. Current law requires an abandoned vehicle to be impounded until claimed or disposed of. If an authorized municipal or county representative determines that the cost of towing and storage in impoundment exceeds the abandoned vehicle's value, the municipality or county may junk or sell that abandoned vehicle under certain conditions. This bill allows the municipality or county to donate that abandoned vehicle as well as junk or sell it. If an abandoned vehicle is impounded, current law allows the municipality or county to dispose of an unclaimed impounded vehicle by sealed bid or auction sale as provided by ordinance. If no acceptable bid is received, the municipality or county may readvertise the sale, adjourn the sale, sell the impounded vehicle at a private sale, or junk the impounded vehicle. This bill allows the municipality or county to donate to a nonprofit organization an unclaimed impounded vehicle, either in lieu of the sale or if no acceptable bid is received.

Also, under current law, if a vehicle is seized and forfeited due to the commission of a crime, the law enforcement agency that seizes the vehicle may retain it for official use or sell it. This bill allows the law enforcement agency to also donate the vehicle to a nonprofit organization.

Who's behind it

5 senators are its authors⁠. 3 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats.

18 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories
• LC Amendment Memo