HB53: (2nd New Title) relative to the sale of salvage and rebuilt vehicles and relative to abandoned vehicles.

CHAPTER 96

HB 53 – FINAL VERSION

07Jan2004… 2512h

04/15/04 1111s

29Apr2004… 1469eba

2004 SESSION

03-0007

05/09

HOUSE BILL 53

AN ACT relative to the sale of salvage and rebuilt vehicles and relative to abandoned vehicles.

SPONSORS: Rep. Greenberg, Hills 50

COMMITTEE: Transportation

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill requires the title and registration for a rebuilt vehicle to indicate that it is a “rebuilt vehicle.” This bill also permits the director of the division of motor vehicles to suspend or revoke the license of person who has been determined to be the owner of an abandoned vehicle that has been removed pursuant to a request by a peace officer.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

07Jan2004… 2512h

04/15/04 1111s

29Apr2004… 1469eba

03-0007

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Four

AN ACT relative to the sale of salvage and rebuilt vehicles and relative to abandoned vehicles.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

96:1 Title and Registration; Dismantling or Destruction of Vehicle; Notice of Rebuilt Vehicle on Registration. Amend RSA 261:22 to read as follows:

261:22 Dismantling or Destruction of Vehicle.

I. Any owner who sells or in any manner disposes of a vehicle as salvage, or who scraps, dismantles or destroys a vehicle, shall immediately cause the certificate of title and any other information or supporting documents the director reasonably requires to be mailed or delivered to the department for cancellation. Should the vehicle be rebuilt, a certificate of title or registration shall not again be issued without first obtaining approval of the director, who shall cause such vehicle to be inspected for verification of the vehicle identification number and bills of sale or title for major component parts used to rebuild the vehicle. When necessary, a new vehicle identification number shall be attached to the vehicle and shall take precedence over any other number that may be engraved on or attached to the vehicle. Any new title and registration issued shall contain the legend “rebuilt vehicle.”

II. Any insurance firm or representative thereof who shall declare a motor vehicle other than an exempt vehicle as provided in RSA 261:3 as having been a total loss shall make application for a salvage certificate of title within 20 days of the total loss payment. Such application shall be accompanied by:

(a) Any certificate of title;

(b) Any other information and documents the director reasonably requires to establish ownership of the vehicle and the existence or nonexistence of security interest in it; and

(c) The required fee of $10.

III. The department shall file each application received and when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity and when satisfied that the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a salvage certificate of title shall issue a salvage certificate of title of the vehicle to the owner. The salvage certificate of title shall serve as proof of ownership and shall contain a legend indicating that the vehicle has been declared a total loss. The department may adopt rules relative to the circumstances, if any, under which a salvage certificate of title should reflect any legend pertaining to recovered theft.

IV. If a vehicle upon which a salvage certificate of title has been issued by the department after the vehicle has been declared a total loss because physically or economically impractical to repair is rebuilt and restored for highway operation, the owner shall not apply for title or registration again until the vehicle has been inspected by the director or his authorized representative. The inspection of the vehicle shall include verification of the vehicle identification number and bills of sale or titles for major component parts used to rebuild the vehicle. The department shall also issue a decal bearing the legend “salvage vehicle” which the title bureau investigator shall affix to the vehicle on the rear of the left front door post. Each “salvage vehicle” decal shall include a statement indicating that removing the decal or causing the decal to be removed is a misdemeanor under RSA 261:22, V.

IV-a. Before selling to any buyer any used vehicle, the title to which is required to be marked “salvage” pursuant to this section, or the title and the registration to which is required to be marked “rebuilt” pursuant to this section, the seller shall disclose to the buyer in writing that the vehicle is a salvage vehicle and the reasons for such designation. Failure to comply with the provisions of this paragraph shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice under RSA 358-A:2.

V. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to remove or cause to be removed a “salvage vehicle” decal from a motor vehicle to which it has been affixed pursuant to paragraph IV. A bona fide purchaser for value of a motor vehicle which is not properly accompanied by the disclosure required by RSA 261:22, IV-a, or from which the seller has removed or caused to be removed a “salvage vehicle” decal in violation of this paragraph may rescind the purchase within 3 business days after receiving a certificate of title disclosing that the vehicle is a salvage vehicle or receiving a certificate of title or registration disclosing that the vehicle is a rebuilt vehicle.

VI. For purposes of this section, a total loss vehicle shall mean either an unrecovered stolen vehicle or one which has sustained damage or injury so extensive that it is physically or economically impractical to repair.

96:2 Authority to Suspend or Revoke License; Abandoned Vehicle. Amend RSA 263:56, I(g)-(h) to read as follows:

(g) Has by reckless or unlawful operation of motor vehicle caused or materially contributed to an accident resulting in death or injury to any other person or serious property damage; [or]

(h) Is a hazard to the public safety as evidenced by proper evidence or information received from a law enforcement agency of misconduct or misuse or abuse of driving privileges; or

(i) Has been determined to be the owner of an abandoned vehicle that has been removed pursuant to a request by a peace officer.

96:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2005.

(Approved: May 11, 2004)

(Effective Date: January 1, 2005)