Vehicle Recovery and Disposition Law
Article 10. Delivery of Recovered Vehicles
Motor vehicles stolen or recovered by any police authority must be immediately delivered to the Technical Judicial Police for processing and notification of the Public Prosecutor.
The head of the delegation shall, within eight hours, submit a complete list of recovered vehicles to the Public Ministry. Vehicles will be returned to the owner by court order or Public Prosecutor control at any stage of the process, including ISAF investigation, after ownership verification. If multiple individuals claim a vehicle, the Technical Judicial Police will refer the case to the Public Ministry. Based on Article 105, paragraph 12, and Article 320, second part, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Public Ministry will request a hearing with the competent judge to determine vehicle return. The hearing must occur within ten to twenty days of the application. The Attorney General will impose disciplinary action, including potential removal, on the Head of the Technical Judicial Police Delegation for non-compliance.
Article 11. Publication of Recovered Vehicles List
The Head of the Technical Judicial Police shall publish a monthly list in two national newspapers of all vehicles in police custody, including their location. This list must also be displayed publicly in all Technical Judicial Police units. If no owner or representative appears within 120 days of publication, the vehicles will be transferred to the National Treasury through the Ministry of Finance. Failure to publish the complete list will result in staff dismissal upon prosecutor request.
Article 12. Stolen Vehicles in Public Parking
Any vehicle parked in a public lot for over five consecutive days without justification, according to this law, will be considered of dubious origin unless the owner has a designated parking space. Parking lot operators must report such vehicles to the Technical Judicial Police after five days, providing identifying information for verification of theft reports. Vehicle retrieval after this period requires proof of ownership to the parking lot.
Article 13. Delivery of Vehicles Recovered in Public Parking
If a vehicle reported stolen is found in a public parking lot, the Technical Judicial Police, in conjunction with a Public Prosecutor, will request a court order to keep the vehicle at the parking lot, without public removal, for delivery to the rightful owner. The vehicle will be included in the list published according to Article 11, indicating its parking location.
Article 14. Public Parking Sanctions
Non-compliance with Articles 12 and 13 by parking lot operators will result in a fine of twenty (20 UT) to forty (40 UT) tributary units for repeat offenses, payable to the National Treasury. Repeated violations may lead to temporary parking lot closure of up to one month, as ordered by the competent supervisory judge.
Article 15. Unclaimed Recovered Vehicles
If no one claims a recovered vehicle within 120 days (Article 11), the Public Prosecutor will request a court order to transfer the vehicle to the National Treasury through the Ministry of Finance. Those with ownership rights may claim the vehicle within 180 days after this period by contacting the Public Prosecutor, who will request a court order for its return from the National Treasury. If no claim is made, the National Treasury may dispose of the vehicle according to this law.
Article 16. Repeal Provision
All conflicting laws and regulations are hereby repealed.
Article 17. Entry into Force
This law takes effect upon publication in the Official Gazette of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.