Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
819.010Failure to comply with requirements for destruction of vehicle; exception; penalty 819.012Failure to follow procedures for a totaled vehicle; penalty 819.014Insurer failure to follow procedures for totaled vehicle; penalty 819.016When salvage title required; rules 819.018Failure to notify subsequent purchaser of condition of vehicle; rules; penalty 819.020[1983 c.338 §195; 1985 c.16 §69; 1985 c.176 §1; 1987 c.119 §5; repealed by 1991 c.820 §20] 819.030Department procedure on receipt of title or notice 819.040Illegal salvage procedures; penalty 819.100Abandoning a vehicle; penalty 819.110Custody, towing and sale or disposal of abandoned vehicle; general provisions 819.120Immediate custody and towing of vehicle constituting hazard or obstruction; rules 819.130[1983 c.338 §419; 1985 c.16 §221; 1993 c.385 §4; repealed by 1995 c.758 §23] 819.140Agencies having authority to take vehicle into custody; powers of agency taking custody 819.150Rights and liabilities of owner 819.160Lien for towing 819.170Notice prior to taking vehicle into custody and towing; methods; contents 819.180Notice after taking into custody and towing; method; contents 819.185Procedure for vehicles that have no identification markings 819.190Hearing to contest validity of custody and towing 819.200Exemption from notice and hearing requirements for vehicle held in criminal investigation 819.210Sale or disposal of vehicle not reclaimed 819.215Disposal of vehicle appraised at $1,000 or less; notice; rules 819.220[1983 c.338 §428; 1985 c.16 §225; 1985 c.316 §6; 1991 c.873 §40; 1993 c.326 §7; 1993 c.751 §76; 1995 c.758 §17; 2005 c.654 §30; repealed by 2009 c.371 §18] 819.230[1983 c.338 §810; 2007 c.630 §4; renumbered 819.480 in 2007] 819.240[1983 c.338 §429; 1991 c.873 §41; 1993 c.233 §65; repealed by 2009 c.371 §18] 819.250[1983 c.338 §430; 1985 c.16 §226; 1985 c.94 §1; repealed by 2009 c.371 §18] 819.260[1983 c.338 §431; 1985 c.316 §7; repealed by 2009 c.371 §18] 819.270[1983 c.338 §432; 1987 c.119 §7; repealed by 2009 c.371 §18] 819.280Disposal of vehicle at request of person in lawful possession; rules 819.300Possession of a stolen vehicle; penalty 819.310Trafficking in stolen vehicles; penalty 819.400Assignment of numbers 819.410Failure to obtain vehicle identification number for unnumbered vehicle; exception; penalty 819.420Failure to obtain vehicle identification number for vehicle with altered or removed number; penalty 819.430Trafficking in vehicles with destroyed or altered identification numbers; penalty 819.440Police seizure of vehicle without identification number; inspection; disposition of vehicle; disposition of moneys from sale 819.480Vehicle appraiser certificate; rules 819.482Acting as vehicle appraiser without certificate; penalty

Chapter 819 — Destroyed, Totaled, Abandoned, Low-Value and Stolen Vehicles; Vehicle Identification Numbers; Vehicle Appraisers

ORS 819.140 Agencies having authority to take vehicle into custody; powers of agency taking custody

(1)

This section establishes which agency has the authority to take vehicles into custody under ORS 819.110 and 819.120. The agency with authority to take a vehicle into custody is responsible for notice and hearings under ORS 819.110 to 819.215. Authority to take a vehicle into custody depends on the location of the vehicle as described under the following:

(a)

If a vehicle is upon the right of way of a state highway, on an interstate highway that is part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways established under section 103(e), title 23, United States Code or on state property, the Department of State Police or the Department of Transportation may take the vehicle into custody and exercise the powers relating to authority over the vehicle described in this section. Action taken by the Department of State Police or the Department of Transportation under this subsection is not subject to ORS chapter 183.

(b)

If the vehicle is upon the right of way of a county road or any other highway or property within the boundaries of a county, the sheriff of the county or a county agency with appropriate authority may take the vehicle into custody and exercise the powers relating to authority over the vehicle described in this section.

(c)

If the vehicle is on a city street or alley, on an interstate highway or other highway within the boundaries of the city or on any other property within the boundaries of a city, the city police or a city agency with appropriate authority may take the vehicle into custody and exercise the powers relating to authority over the vehicle described in this section.

(2)

Except as otherwise provided by this section, an agency taking custody of a vehicle under ORS 819.110 or 819.120 may:

(a)

Use its own personnel, equipment and facilities for the towing and preservation of such vehicles; or

(b)

Hire or otherwise engage other personnel, equipment and facilities for that purpose.

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Provenance

Version history

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