2017 Wyoming Statutes
TITLE 31 - MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 13 - ABANDONED VEHICLES
SECTION 31-13-101 - Definitions.

31-13-101. Definitions.

(a) As used in this act:

(i) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 241, § 4.

(ii) "Department" means the department of transportation;

(iii) "Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel;

(iv) "Lienholder" means a person holding a valid security interest in a vehicle;

(v) "Local authorities" means as provided by W.S. 31-5-102(a)(xix);

(vi) "Owner" means as provided by W.S. 31-5-102(a)(xxvi);

(vii) "Police officer" means as provided by W.S. 31-5-102(a)(xxxiii);

(viii) "Registration" means the certificate of title or certificates and registration card issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of vehicles;

(ix) "Vehicle" means:

(A) As provided by W.S. 31-5-102(a)(lviii) excepting every vehicle which is designed for agricultural purposes and exclusively used by the owner thereof in the conduct of his agricultural operations;

(B) A housetrailer as provided by W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xxiii)(A) which is not installed on a permanent foundation and which is not taxable as real property;

(C) A transportable home as provided by W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xxiv)(C) which is not installed on a permanent foundation and which is not taxable as real property; or

(D) Watercraft titled under W.S. 31-2-101(b).

(x) "Abandoned vehicle" means:

(A) Any vehicle left unattended on a highway for more than twenty-four (24) hours after a notice of intent to impound has been placed on the vehicle by a police officer pursuant to this act;

(B) Any vehicle left unattended on public or private property without the oral or written 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 the vehicle by a police officer pursuant to this act;

(C) Any vehicle left unattended or unclaimed on private property for more than thirty (30) days without the oral or written consent of the owner or the person in lawful possession or control of the property or for more than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the oral or written consent;

(D) Any vehicle removed or stored at the request of a police officer and left unattended or unclaimed for more than ten (10) days after the owner of the vehicle or his agent removes personal property from the vehicle, provided the person who has custody of the vehicle informs the owner or agent in writing, before the personal property is released, that the vehicle may be deemed abandoned and disposed of pursuant to this act if the owner or agent does not enter into a written agreement to pay the charges for towing and storage.

(xi) "Junk vehicle" means a wrecked, damaged, disabled or apparently inoperable vehicle defined as abandoned under subparagraph (x)(C) or (D) of this subsection which has a fair market value of less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00);

(xii) "Personal property" means all property within the vehicle which is not mounted, attached or affixed to the vehicle. The cargo carried on commercial vehicles is not considered personal property;

(xiii) "Proper identification" means identification which would be sufficient to establish authorization to release the vehicle;

(xiv) "Towing and recovery service" means any person engaged in business and operating a wrecker, tow truck or other vehicle equipped with a mechanical apparatus designed to hoist, pull or move a vehicle that is wrecked, damaged, disabled, abandoned or otherwise creating a safety hazard, and which meets all requirements of the local authorities in the respective jurisdiction and the requirements of the department;

(xv) "This act" means W.S. 31-13-101 through 31-13-116.