§1726.  Abandoned automobiles; stored or in possession of dealer or repairman; right to sell; procedure

A.  Whenever any vehicle of a type subject to registration in this state has been stored or left in possession of a motor vehicle dealer or repairman for repair or otherwise and the same has not been claimed after a vehicle has been placed in storage as a result of nonpayment, the repair shop shall make the notifications required in R.S. 32:1719 and R.S. 32:1720.

B.  After a period of forty-five days from the notice required in R.S. 32:1720 and no payment of the cost of storage or repair has been made for that period, the motor vehicle dealer or repairman with whom the vehicle has been left for storage or repair may dispose of it and collect the charges and cost of storage and cost of repair in the manner set forth in R.S. 32:1728.  The charges and cost for storage shall not exceed any maximum charge set by the Public Service Commission for storage services pursuant to its legal authority under R.S. 45:180.1, or as otherwise provided by law.

Acts 1989, No. 522, §1; Acts 2001, No. 496, §1.