(a) When an abandoned motor vehicle has been taken into custody, the sheriff, or his designee, or chief of police, or his designee, shall notify within forty-five days, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, the last known registered owner of the vehicle and all lienholders of record that the vehicle has been taken into custody. The notice must describe the year, make, model, and serial number of the vehicle, set forth where the motor vehicle is being held, inform the owner and any lienholders of the right to reclaim the motor vehicle within fifteen days after the date of the notice, upon payment of all towing, preservation, and storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and state that the failure of the owner or lienholders to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided is deemed a waiver by the owner and all lienholders of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle and consent to the sale of the vehicle at a public auction.
(b) If the identity of the last registered owner cannot be determined, or if the registration contains no address for the owner, or if it is impossible to determine with reasonable certainty the identity and addresses of all lienholders, notice by one publication in one newspaper of general circulation in the area where the motor vehicle was abandoned is sufficient to meet all requirements of notice pursuant to this article. The notice by publication may contain multiple listings of abandoned vehicles. This notice must be within the time requirements prescribed for notice by registered or certified mail and must have the same contents required for a notice by registered mail.
(c) No lienholder shall be subject to any penalty imposed by law in this State for abandonment unless the vehicle is abandoned by the lienholder, or his agent, or servant. No owner of a vehicle which has been stolen and thereafter abandoned, as defined by this article, shall be liable for any charges or penalties imposed herein. A vehicle shall be deemed to be stolen when the owner notifies a police officer of this State and such report is accepted and carried on the records of the sheriff or chief of police as a stolen vehicle.