Sec. 2303.157.  DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN ABANDONED VEHICLES.  (a)  The operator of a vehicle storage facility may dispose of a vehicle for which notice is given under Section 2303.154 if, before the 30th day after the date notice is mailed, the vehicle is not:
(1)  claimed by a person entitled to claim the vehicle;  or
(2)  taken into custody by a law enforcement agency under Chapter 683, Transportation Code.
(b)  An operator entitled to dispose of a vehicle under this section may sell the vehicle at a public sale without obtaining a release or discharge of any lien on the vehicle, regardless of whether notice was provided by mail or by publication under this chapter.  The proceeds from the sale of the vehicle shall be applied to the charges incurred for the vehicle under Section 2303.155.  The operator shall pay any excess proceeds to the person entitled to those proceeds.
(c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the operator of a vehicle storage facility may dispose of a vehicle for which notice was given under this subchapter as provided by this section if:
(1)  the vehicle is an abandoned nuisance vehicle;  and
(2)  before the 30th day after the date the notice was sent, the facility submits an application to the department for disposal of the vehicle.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1421, Sec. 5, eff. June 1, 2003.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 14A.628(a), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.