Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-150c: Lien upon motor vehicle for towing or storage charges imposed by wrecker service or owner or keeper of any garage, storage facility or other place. Notice of intent to sell motor vehicle. Approval of proposed sale and affidavit of compliance. Sale of motor vehicle. Proceeds.

(a) Whenever a motor vehicle is taken into custody and stored pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of section 14-150, or is subject to nonconsensual towing or transporting, as defined in section 14-66, the wrecker service or owner or keeper of any garage, storage facility or other place where such motor vehicle is stored shall have a lien upon such motor vehicle for towing or storage charges, or both, imposed by such wrecker service or owner or keeper that result from towing or storing a motor vehicle.

(b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (d) of section 14-150, if such wrecker service or owner or keeper makes a determination in good faith that the current market value of the stored motor vehicle does not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars and such stored motor vehicle has been stored for a period of not less than fifteen days, such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall, unless an application filed by the owner of such motor vehicle pursuant to subsection (e) of section 14-150, is pending and the owner of such motor vehicle has notified such wrecker service or owner or keeper that such application for hearing has been filed, send a notice of intent to sell that complies with subsection (c) of this section to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, the owner of such motor vehicle and any known lienholder of record of such motor vehicle at the end of such fifteen-day period. Upon approval by the commissioner of the notice of intent to sell, the commissioner shall issue such wrecker service or owner or keeper an affidavit of compliance. Such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall sell such motor vehicle not less than five business days after the mailing date of the notice of intent and apply the proceeds of the sale toward the towing and storage charges imposed by such wrecker service or owner or keeper.

(2) If such wrecker service or owner or keeper makes a determination in good faith that the current market value of the stored motor vehicle exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars and if such motor vehicle has been stored for a period of not less than forty-five days, such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall, unless an application filed by the owner pursuant to subsection (e) of section 14-150, is pending and the owner of such motor vehicle has notified such wrecker service or owner or keeper that such application for a hearing has been filed, send a notice of intent to sell that complies with subsection (c) of this section to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, the owner of such motor vehicle and any known lienholder of record of such motor vehicle at the end of such forty-five-day period. Upon approval by the commissioner of the notice of intent to sell, the commissioner shall issue such wrecker service or owner or keeper an affidavit of compliance. Such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall sell such motor vehicle at public auction for cash, at the place of business of such wrecker service or owner or keeper not less than five business days after the mailing date of the notice of intent to sell. Such owner or keeper shall apply the proceeds of such sale toward the towing and storage charges imposed by such wrecker service or owner or keeper, the expenses related to such sale and any debt or obligation incurred by the officer who placed such motor vehicle in storage in accordance with section 14-150.

(3) In determining the current market value of the stored motor vehicle pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection, the wrecker service may deduct for an observed defect or missing major component part, as defined in section 14-149a.

(c) (1) The notice of intent to sell described in subsection (b) of this section shall include, but need not be limited to, (A) the make, model and vehicle identification number of the stored motor vehicle, (B) the date such motor vehicle was left with such wrecker service or owner or keeper and by whom, (C) the registration number if any number plates are on such motor vehicle, (D) the retail market value of such motor vehicle as determined by the wrecker service or owner or keeper, and (E) a statement to the owner and known lienholder that (i) the stored motor vehicle will be sold if not redeemed in a timely manner, (ii) such motor vehicle may be redeemed until the point-of-sale, (iii) any proceeds of such sale, after deducting the amount due to such wrecker service or owner or keeper and any expenses of the officer who placed such motor vehicle in storage, if applicable, will be held in an escrow account and paid to the owner of such motor vehicle or such owner's legal representatives, if claimed by such owner or legal representatives not later than one year from the date of such sale, and (iv) if such proceeds are not claimed within said period of time, such proceeds will escheat to the state. Such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall provide such notice and a copy of the consumer bill of rights regarding towing, developed pursuant to section 14-66g, to the motor vehicle owner and lienholder by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(2) Such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall also provide a copy of the notice of intent to sell to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in a form and manner determined by the commissioner. Such notice of intent to sell shall be accompanied by a filing fee of ten dollars and any other information, such as photographs of the stored motor vehicle, that the commissioner may prescribe. Such notice of intent to sell shall be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200. The commissioner may send a copy of such notice of intent to sell electronically to the owner or lienholder of such motor vehicle.

(3) Any sale of a stored motor vehicle under the provisions of this section shall be void, unless such wrecker service or owner or keeper provides the notices required by this subsection.

(d) Upon receipt of a notice of intent to sell, the commissioner shall review such notice and determine if the owner of the motor vehicle has filed a customer complaint concerning such wrecker service or owner or keeper pursuant to section 14-63. The commissioner shall not approve such proposed sale until any such customer complaint is resolved. If the commissioner approves such proposed sale, the commissioner shall issue such wrecker service or owner or keeper an affidavit of compliance.

(e) (1) Upon receipt of an affidavit of compliance by the commissioner, such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall mail a notice of proposed sale to the motor vehicle owner and known lienholder by certified mail, return receipt requested, that indicates the date, time and place of the proposed sale of such motor vehicle. Not less than five business days after the mailing date of the notice of proposed sale, such wrecker service or owner or keeper may proceed to sell such motor vehicle pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (b) of this section.

(2) In addition to the thirty-day period immediately following the date such motor vehicle was placed in storage under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, or a sixty-day period immediately following the date such motor vehicle was placed in storage under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, the wrecker service may only charge up to ten additional days of storage for such motor vehicle after receipt of the affidavit of compliance issued by the commissioner.

(f) At the time of a sale conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section, such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall provide the purchaser of such motor vehicle with the affidavit of compliance issued by the commissioner.

(g) Not later than fifteen days after the sale of a motor vehicle in accordance with the provisions of this section, such wrecker service or owner or keeper of such garage shall (1) report the sale price, towing and storage charges, repair charges, if any, expenses related to the sale, any proceeds, the buyer's name and address, identification of the vehicle and such other information as may be required in regulations adopted pursuant to section 14-150d, to the commissioner, (2) deposit the proceeds of such sale, after deducting the amount due to such wrecker service or owner or keeper and any expenses of the officer who placed such motor vehicle in storage, if applicable, into an escrow account, and (3) upon receipt of a claim by the prior owner of such motor vehicle or such owner's legal representatives not later than one year from the date of such sale, pay such sale proceeds to the prior owner or such owner's legal representatives. If such sale proceeds are not claimed within said period of time, such sale proceeds shall escheat to the state as unclaimed property and the wrecker service or owner or keeper shall be subject to the requirements of part III of chapter 32, including all obligations of a holder of unclaimed property. Not later than ten days after filing any report and paying any funds to the Treasurer as required by part III of chapter 32, such wrecker service or owner or keeper shall provide evidence to the commissioner, in a form and manner determined by the commissioner, that such report was submitted and funds have escheated.

(h) In no event shall such wrecker service or owner or keeper sell a motor vehicle that has not been (1) stored for at least thirty days if the current market value of such motor vehicle does not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars, or (2) stored for at least sixty days if the current market value of such motor vehicle exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars.