(A) An officer who finds a vehicle or parts believed to be abandoned shall attach in a prominent place a notice tag containing the following information:
(1) The date, time, officer’s name, city Police Department, and address and telephone number to contact for information.
(2) That the vehicle or parts are considered abandoned.
(3) That the vehicle or parts will be removed after:
(a) 36 hours, if the vehicle is located on or within the right-of-way of an interstate highway or any highway that is designed as part of the state highway system under IC 8-23-4; or
(b) 72 hours, for any other vehicle.
(4) That the owner will be held responsible for all costs incidental to the removal, storage, and disposal of the vehicle.
(5) That the owner may avoid costs by removal of the vehicle or parts within:
(a) 36 hours, if the vehicle is located on or within the right-of-way of an interstate highway or any highway that is designed as part of the state highway system under IC 8-23-4; or
(b) 72 hours, for any other vehicle.
(IC 9-22-1-11)
(B) If the tagged vehicle or parts are not removed within the applicable period, the officer shall prepare a written abandoned vehicle report of the vehicle or parts including information on the condition and missing parts. Photographs may be taken to describe the condition of the vehicle or parts. (IC 9-22-1-12)
(C) (1) If the vehicle is a junk vehicle and the market value of an abandoned vehicle or parts is less than:
(a) One thousand dollars; or
(b) If the city has adopted an ordinance under division (2) below, the amount established by the ordinance;
the towing service shall immediately transfer the vehicle to a storage yard. A copy of the abandoned vehicle report and photographs, if applicable, relating to the abandoned vehicle shall be provided to the storage yard. A towing service or storage yard may dispose of an abandoned vehicle not less than 30 days after the date on which the towing service removed the abandoned vehicle. A city, county, or town that operates a storage yard under IC 36-9-30-3 may dispose of an abandoned vehicle to an automobile scrapyard or an automotive salvage recycler upon removal of the abandoned vehicle. The public agency or storage yard disposing of the vehicle shall retain the original records and photographs for at least two years. If the vehicle is demolished, a copy of the abandoned vehicle report shall be forwarded to the Bureau by the automobile scrap yard after the vehicle has been demolished.
(2) The Common Council may adopt an ordinance that establishes the market value below which an officer may dispose of a vehicle or parts under division (1). However, the market value established by the ordinance may not be more than $750.
(3) When the Bureau receives the report described in division (1), the Bureau shall note the status of the vehicle in the records of the Bureau.
(IC 9-22-1-13)
(D) If, in the opinion of the officer, the market value of the abandoned vehicle or parts is at least:
(1) One thousand dollars; or
(2) If the city has adopted an ordinance under division (C)(2), the amount established by the ordinance;
the officer, before placing a notice tag on the vehicle or parts, shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain the person who owns the vehicle or who may be in control of the vehicle or parts. After 72 hours, the officer shall require the vehicle or parts to be towed to a storage yard or towing service.
(IC 9-22-1-14)