2017 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 03 - Landlord-Tenant, Domestic Relations, Probate
Chapter 098 - Lost, Unclaimed or Abandoned Property; Vehicle Towing
Section 98.812 - Towing and storage of unlawfully parked vehicle; lien for towage, care and storage charges; notice requirements.
(1) If a vehicle has been left or parked in violation of ORS 98.810, the owner of the parking facility or the owner of the proscribed property may have a tower tow the vehicle from the parking facility or the proscribed property and place the vehicle in storage at a secure location under the control of the tower.
(2) A tower is entitled to a lien on a towed vehicle and its contents for the tower’s just and reasonable charges. The tower may retain possession of the towed vehicle and its contents until the just and reasonable charges for the towage, care and storage of the towed vehicle have been paid if the tower complies with the following requirements:
(a) The tower shall notify the local law enforcement agency of the location of the towed vehicle within one hour after the towed vehicle is placed in storage;
(b) If the towed vehicle is registered in Oregon, the tower shall give notice, within 15 days after the towed vehicle is placed in storage, to the owner of the towed vehicle or any other person with an interest in the towed vehicle, as indicated by the certificate of title. If notice under this paragraph is given by mail, it must be transmitted within the 15-day period, but need not be received within that period, but within a reasonable time. If the tower fails to comply with the notice requirements of this paragraph, the amount of the lien is limited to a sum equal to the reasonable expenses incurred within the 15-day period for towage, care and storage of the towed vehicle; and
(c) If the towed vehicle is not registered in Oregon, the tower shall, within 15 days after the towed vehicle is placed in storage, notify and request the title information and the name and address of the owner of the towed vehicle from the records of the motor vehicle agency for the state in which the towed vehicle is registered. The tower shall have 15 days from the date of receipt of the information contained in the records of the state motor vehicle agency to notify the owner of the towed vehicle or any other person with an interest in the towed vehicle, as indicated by the certificate of title. If notice under this paragraph is given by mail, it must be transmitted within 15 days from the receipt of the information contained in the records of the state motor vehicle agency, but need not be received within that period, but within a reasonable time. If the tower fails to comply with the notice requirements of this paragraph, the amount of the lien is limited to a sum equal to the reasonable expenses incurred within the period between storage of the towed vehicle and receipt of the information contained in the records of the state motor vehicle agency for towage, care and storage of the towed vehicle.
(3) The lien created by subsection (2) of this section may be foreclosed only in the manner provided by ORS 87.172 (3) and 87.176 to 87.206 for foreclosure of liens arising or claimed under ORS 87.152. [1953 c.575 §2; 1977 c.634 §1; 1979 c.100 §4; 1981 c.861 §25; 1983 c.436 §4; 1993 c.385 §2; 2001 c.424 §1; 2007 c.538 §11; 2009 c.622 §1; 2017 c.480 §2]
