This bill amends existing laws regarding the handling of abandoned vehicles in Iowa. It reduces the timeframe for a police authority or private entity to send notice of custody from twenty days to ten days after taking custody of an abandoned vehicle. Additionally, it extends the reclamation period for owners, lienholders, or claimants to reclaim the vehicle or personal property from ten days to twenty days. If a private entity sells the vehicle at auction without providing notice to a lienholder, the entity is required to pay the lienholder from the auction proceeds before using the funds for any other purpose.

The bill also introduces new provisions allowing individuals to reclaim personal property from the vehicle for a fee, and it mandates that entities provide an itemized account of all fees assessed during the reclamation process. Furthermore, it allows lienholders or insurance companies to request information about the vehicle's condition for a fee, with the entity required to provide access or photos of the vehicle. Importantly, if proper notice is not given, claimants retain their rights to the vehicle, and the bill establishes penalties for non-compliance with these regulations, classifying violations as simple misdemeanors.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.89, 321.90