§1861. Holding vehicle and its accessories
A person holding or storing an abandoned vehicle, holding or storing a vehicle towed at the request of the vehicle's operator, owner or owner's agent or holding or storing a vehicle stored at the request of a law enforcement officer may hold the vehicle and all its accessories, contents and equipment, not including the personal effects of the registered owner, until reasonable towing and storage charges of the person holding or storing the vehicle are paid, except that a person may not hold the perishable cargo of a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 390.5, as amended, when the perishable cargo being transported in interstate or intrastate commerce is not owned by the motor carrier or driver of the commercial motor vehicle being held and the person holding or storing the towed vehicle is presented with evidence of insurance, as defined in section 1551, covering the commercial motor vehicle and the vehicle's cargo. For purposes of this paragraph, "perishable cargo" means cargo of a commercial motor vehicle that is subject to spoilage or decay or is marked with an expiration date. [PL 2017, c. 120, §1 (AMD).]
For purposes of this section, "personal effects" includes medications, medical equipment, clothing, mail, child restraint systems and similar items. Except for child restraint systems, items attached to the vehicle and business equipment, machinery and tools are not considered personal effects. For the purposes of this section, "child restraint system" has the same meaning as in section 2081, subsection 1, paragraph A‑2. [PL 2019, c. 299, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2007, c. 150, §9 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 120, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 299, §1 (AMD).
Structure Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Chapter 15: INSPECTION AND REPAIR
Subchapter 3: ABANDONED VEHICLES
29-A §1852. Abandonment defined
29-A §1853. Letter of ownership or certificate of title
29-A §1854. Notification of vehicle owner
29-A §1855. Owner or lienholder known (REPEALED)
29-A §1856. Change of ownership
29-A §1858. Abandonment of vehicle on public way
29-A §1859. Removal of vehicle
29-A §1860. Abandonment on an island
29-A §1861. Holding vehicle and its accessories