PRINTER'S NO. 3023
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2251
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY NEILSON, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, McNEILL,
GUENST, BELLMON, JAMES, JOZWIAK AND PARKER, APRIL 30, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 30, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, in abandoned vehicles and cargos, further providing
3 for notice to owner and lienholders of abandoned vehicles,
4 for authorization for disposal of unclaimed vehicles and for
5 processing of nonrepairable or salvage vehicles.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Sections 7305(a) and (c), 7307 and 7309(a) and
9 (b) of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are
10 amended to read:
11 § 7305. Notice to owner and lienholders of abandoned vehicles.
12 (a) General rule.--The department upon receipt of an
13 abandoned vehicle information report shall, within 10 business
14 days, notify by certified mail, return receipt requested, the
15 last known registered owner of the vehicle and all lienholders
16 of record that the vehicle is being held as abandoned.
17 * * *
18 (c) Notice by publication.--If the identity of the last
19 registered owner and of all lienholders cannot be determined
 1 with reasonable certainty, the contents of the notice set forth
2 in subsection (b) shall be published one time in one newspaper
3 of general circulation in the area where the vehicle was
4 abandoned within 10 business days of the date the department
5 determines a registered owner and lienholders cannot be
6 determined with reasonable certainty. The notice may contain
7 multiple listings of abandoned vehicles. Notice by publication
8 locally shall be the responsibility of the salvor. The notice
9 shall have the same effect as notice sent by certified mail.
10 § 7307. Authorization for disposal of unclaimed vehicles.
11 The department shall, after the expiration of 30 days from
12 the date of notice sent by certified mail to the registered
13 owner and all lienholders of record or 30 days after publication
14 of notice, where applicable, and upon receipt of a written
15 statement from the holder of the vehicle that the abandoned
16 vehicle has not been reclaimed by the owner or lienholder within
17 the 30-day period, authorize the disposal of the abandoned
18 vehicle in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The
19 department shall process the authorization for the disposal of
20 the abandoned vehicle within 10 business days of receipt of the
21 written statement from the holder of the vehicle.
22 § 7309. Processing of nonrepairable or salvage vehicles.
23 (a) Application for certificate of salvage.--If an abandoned
24 vehicle is a salvage or nonrepairable vehicle as deemed by a
25 police officer and salvor, the salvor and the police officer
26 shall note that fact in the report to the department required in
27 section 7304 (relating to reports to department of possession of
28 abandoned vehicles) and shall apply for issuance of a
29 certificate of salvage or nonrepairable vehicle as provided for
30 in Subchapter D of Chapter 11 (relating to salvage vehicles,
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 1 theft vehicles, reconstructed vehicles and flood vehicles). The
2 application shall be approved or denied by the department within
3 10 business days of receipt of the application if the
4 requirements of sections 7305 (relating to notice to owner and
5 lienholders of abandoned vehicles) and 7307 (relating to
6 authorization for disposal of unclaimed vehicles) have been met.
7 (b) Notice and issuance of certificate.--If the identity of
8 the last registered owner cannot be determined with reasonable
9 certainty and it is impossible to determine with reasonable
10 certainty the identity and addresses of any lienholder, no
11 notice shall be required. Under such circumstances, the
12 department shall upon receipt of the report by the salvor
13 pursuant to section 7304 [issue] review the report within 10
14 business days of receipt and then issue a certificate of salvage
15 as provided in Subchapter D of Chapter 11.
16 * * *
17 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 3023: 75-7305(a), 75-7307, 75-7309(a)