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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79942</law_id><section_number>46.2-1215</section_number><catch_line>Leaving vehicles on private property prohibited; authority of counties, cities, and towns to provide for removal and disposition; notice of disposition</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-1233</reference><reference>46.2-644.01</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Immobilized and Unattended Vehicles</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No person shall leave any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span>, or part of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> on the private property of any other person without his consent. The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of any county, city, or town may by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> provide, that on complaint of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the property on which such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span>, or part thereof has been left for more than 72 hours, that such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span>, or part thereof, may be removed by or under the direction of a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> or other uniformed employee of the local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency who specifically is authorized to do so by the chief <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> or his designee to a storage area. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall require the <span class="dictionary">owners</span> of private property which is normally open to the public for parking to post or cause to be posted signs warning that <span class="dictionary">vehicles</span> left on the property for more than 72 hours will be towed or removed at their <span class="dictionary">owners</span>&#x2019; expense. The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may also provide that the person at whose request the vehicle, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span>, or part thereof is so removed shall indemnify the county, city, or town against any loss or expense incurred by reason of removal, storage, or sale thereof.
		In the case of the removal of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span>, or part of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> from private property, when it cannot be readily sold, the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span>, or part may be disposed of in whatever manner the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of the county, city, or town may provide.
		In all other respects, the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns" href="/46.2-1213/">46.2-1213</a> and <a class="law" title="Local governing body may regulate certain towing" href="/46.2-1217/">46.2-1217</a> shall apply to these removals. Disposal of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> may at the option of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of the county, city, or town be carried out under either the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns" href="/46.2-1213/">46.2-1213</a>, or under the provisions of this section after a diligent search for the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, after notice to him at his last known address and to the holder of any <span class="dictionary">lien</span> of record in the office of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> against the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span>, and after the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> has been held at least 60 days.
		The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall be notified of the <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Removal and disposition of unattended or immobile vehicles; ordinances in counties, cities, and towns" href="/46.2-1213/">46.2-1213</a> or the provisions of this section.</p></section></text><history>1964, c. 391, &#xA7; 46.1-3.2; 1966, c. 615; 1984, c. 158; 1987, cc. 152, 202; 1989, c. 727; 2012, c. 474.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
