N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 425: Repossession of motor vehicle or motorcycle; garageman's lien; notice to police

§ 425. Repossession of motor vehicle or motorcycle; garageman's lien;

notice to police. 1. Any person, firm or corporation, or agent, employee

or representative thereof, repossessing or retaking a motor vehicle or

motorcycle pursuant to the provisions of article nine of the uniform

commercial code, or other authority of law, or any contract or

agreement, shall, immediately following such repossession or retaking,

personally appear at a station house or other office of the police

department, or agency or officer performing like functions, in the

locality wherein such repossession or retaking occurred, give notice to

such department, agency or officer of such repossession or retaking and

thereafter and within twenty-four hours of the tenth day after such

repossession or retaking personally deliver or mail by first class mail

to the nearest motor vehicle office of the state or county acting as an

agent of the commissioner pursuant to section two hundred five of this

chapter, (a) notice of such repossession or retaking in such form as the

commissioner may require and (b) the number plates of such motor vehicle

or motorcycle. Notice of such repossession or retaking, including the

name and address of the person, firm or corporation repossessing or

retaking the same, shall also be given within twenty-four hours thereof

to the owner of such motor vehicle or motorcycle, either personally or

by registered or certified mail, or by first class mail, with a

certificate of mailing properly endorsed by the postal service to be

obtained, directed to such owner at his or her last-known address.

Unless the motor vehicle or motorcycle can be repossessed or retaken

without breach of the peace, it shall be repossessed or retaken by legal

process, but nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize a

violation of the criminal law.

2. Any person, firm or corporation, or agent, employee or

representative thereof holding a motor vehicle or motorcycle under a

lien for repairs or storage pursuant to any authority of law, or any

contract or agreement shall return any registration plates for such

vehicle which are in his possession to the registrant upon the

registrant's request, or if not so returned shall, within twenty-four

hours after such request, personally deliver or mail by special delivery

first class mail to the nearest motor vehicle office (a) notice of such

holding in such form as the commissioner may require and (b) the number

plates of such motor vehicle or motorcycle.