New Jersey § 39:4-139

§ 39:4-139.

a. The governing body of every municipality may make, amend, repeal and enforce an

ordinance authorizing the impoundment or immobilization of a vehicle found within

the jurisdiction of that municipality if there are any outstanding warrants against

the vehicle. b. Except for vehicles owned by lessors who have complied with paragraphs (1) and

(2) of subsection b. of section 4 of this act, 1 if the outstanding warrants are not paid by midnight on the 30th day following the

day on which the vehicle was impounded or immobilized, the vehicle may be sold at

a public auction. The municipality shall give notice of the sale by certified mail to the owner, if

his name and address are known, and to the holder of any security interest filed with

the director, and by publication in a form to be prescribed by the director by one

insertion, at least five days before the date of the sale, in one or more newspapers

published in this State and circulating in the municipality in which the motor vehicle

has been impounded or immobilized. c. At any time prior to the sale, the owner of the motor vehicle or other person entitled

to the motor vehicle may reclaim possession of the motor vehicle upon payment of the

reasonable costs of removal and storage of the motor vehicle, any fine or penalty

and court costs assessed against him for a violation that gave rise to the impoundment

or immobilization of the motor vehicle, and any outstanding warrants against the vehicle;

however, the owner-lessor of a motor vehicle who has complied with paragraphs (1)

and (2) of subsection b. of section 4 of this act shall be entitled to reclaim possession

without payment and the lessee shall be liable for any fine, penalty, court costs

and outstanding warrants against the vehicle. d. Any proceeds obtained from the sale of a vehicle at public auction pursuant to

subsection b. of this section in excess of the amount owed to the municipality for

the reasonable costs of removal and storage of the motor vehicle, any fine or penalty

and court costs assessed against him for a violation that gave rise to the impoundment

or immobilization of the motor vehicle, and any outstanding warrants against the vehicle,

shall be returned to the owner of the vehicle, if his name and address are known. 1

N.J.S.A. § 39:4-139.5.