Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §105, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

3. Impoundment. When a motor vehicle is operated by a person not able to produce a certificate of registration, or by a person other than the person in whose name the vehicle is registered and the operator is unable to present reasonable evidence of authority to operate that vehicle, an officer may impound and hold that vehicle until that vehicle is claimed by the registered owner or until the registered owner verifies the authority of the operator. The registered owner must be notified immediately of the impoundment The officer shall follow the notification requirements and provisions for payment of towing and storage costs in section 2422.

Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §1857, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

§1857. Limits

If the inquiry to the Secretary of State required by section 1854 or the notice required by section 1855 is made more than 30 days after receipt of a vehicle described in section 1851, the person holding the vehicle may not collect more than 30 days of storage fees. For vehicles that are abandoned according to section 1852 Daily daily storage charges must be reasonable and total storage charges may not exceed $600 for a 30-day period. For vehicles that are towed under this subchapter but not abandoned, the notification requirements and provisions for payment of towing and storage costs in section 2422 apply.

Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §2069, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:

5. Notification. Upon removal of a vehicle in accordance with this section, the notification requirements and provisions for payment of towing and storage costs in chapter 15, subchapter III section 2422 apply.

Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §2422, sub-§§2 and 3, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 417, §1, are amended to read:

2. Storage. If a motor vehicle is seized, it must be held in secure storage by the seizing agency or at the direction of the arresting law enforcement officer. The agency or law enforcement officer shall notify the owner of the car of the location of the vehicle within 24 hours of the impoundment.

3. Release of vehicle. The motor vehicle may be released after at least an 8-hour period and payment of any towing and