2011 Wyoming Statutes
TITLE 31 - MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 13 - ABANDONED VEHICLES
31-13-104. Abandonment on highway or property; removal; presumption of abandonment; title to vehicle; notice of intent to impound.

(a) No person shall abandon a vehicle upon any highway.

(b) No person shall abandon a vehicle upon any public or private property without the express consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property.

(c) Any police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle has been abandoned may remove the vehicle, or cause it to be removed, at the expense of the owner to a place of impoundment designated by the county commissioners of the county in which the vehicle is impounded. Removal of an abandoned vehicle from private property by a police officer shall be upon the written request, upon a form prescribed by the department, of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property. The police department having jurisdiction shall immediately send a written report of the removal by a police officer to the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded, which report shall include a description of the vehicle, the date, time and place of removal, the grounds for removal, and place of impoundment of the vehicle. The sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded shall submit the report provided by the police department to the department with a determination of the retail value of the vehicle as required in this subsection. Upon receipt of a report as provided, the department shall provide written notification to the vehicle owner of record and to lienholders of record, stating the grounds for removal by a police officer and the name of the place of impoundment of the vehicle. Notice shall not be required if the retail value of an abandoned vehicle removed by a police officer is six hundred dollars ($600.00) or less as determined by the sheriff of the county in which the vehicle is impounded. As to vehicles not registered in this state, the department shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner or any lienholder of removal by a police officer and the place of impoundment of the vehicle. The department shall forward a copy of the notice to the owner or person in charge of the place of impoundment of a vehicle removed by a police officer.

(d) For purposes of this section a vehicle is presumed to be abandoned if it is left unattended on a highway for more than twenty-four (24) hours after a notice of intent to impound has been placed on it pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, or on any public or private property without express consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property for more than five (5) days after a notice of intent to impound has been placed on it pursuant to subsection (f) of this section. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, any vehicle left unattended on private property for thirty (30) days after the expiration of the consent, oral or written, of the owner or the person in lawful possession or control of the property is presumed abandoned five (5) days after a notice of intent to impound has been placed on it pursuant to subsection (f) of this section. A transportable home impounded pursuant to this section shall be disposed of in accordance with W.S. 31-13-109.

(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, title to any vehicle impounded by a police officer not reclaimed by the registered owner or any lienholder within thirty (30) days of the notice provided by subsection (c) of this section shall vest with the county government where the vehicle is impounded.

(f) A notice of intent to impound an abandoned vehicle by a police officer shall be placed in a prominent position on a vehicle when a police officer reasonably believes it is abandoned. The notice of intent shall remain on the vehicle at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to removal if abandoned on a highway and five (5) days if abandoned on public or private property and impounded by a police officer.