65Removal of abandoned vehicles

65 Removal of abandoned vehicles (1) An officer of a competent authority may move, or cause to be moved, an abandoned vehicle. (2) For subregulation (1), the officer of the competent authority may enter the vehicle for the purpose of moving it if: (a) the driver or the owner of the vehicle does not comply with a request of the officer to move the vehicle; or (b) the officer cannot find the driver or the owner of the vehicle after reasonable inquiry of any persons in the vicinity of the vehicle. (2A) The vehicle may be moved to any other place for storage that the officer of the competent authority considers appropriate. (3) An officer of the competent authority, or any person assisting the officer, is not liable for any damage caused to the vehicle in moving, entering or storing the vehicle. (4) If a vehicle is moved under subregulation (1), the officer who moved the vehicle or caused it to be moved must, within 7 days after it is moved, serve or cause to be served a notice on the owner: (a) personally; or (b) by post to the owner's postal address, place of residence or place of business. (5) The notice is to state the following matters: (a) that the vehicle has been moved and the address to which it has been moved; (b) that the vehicle is to be collected within 14 days of the owner receiving the notice; (c) the charges, if any, to be paid before the owner can take possession of the vehicle; (d) that, if the owner fails to collect the vehicle, the vehicle will be sold and the costs of removing, storing and selling it will be deducted from the proceeds of the sale.

Traffic Regulations 1999 40 (6) If the owner of a vehicle cannot be ascertained or found for the purposes of serving a notice under subregulation (4), the competent authority must publish the notice mentioned in that subregulation in the manner that the competent authority considers appropriate, having regard to the likely or presumed whereabouts of the owner.