§17A-8-1. Report by police of stolen and recovered vehicles or special mobile equipment.

Every sheriff, chief of police, member of the department of public safety or peace officer upon receiving reliable information that any vehicle registered hereunder or any item of special mobile equipment has been stolen shall immediately report such theft to the department unless prior thereto information has been received of the recovery of such vehicle or item of special mobile equipment. Upon receiving a report of a stolen or embezzled item of special mobile equipment, or the recovery thereof, the department shall immediately report the information to the national crime information center maintained by the federal bureau of investigation. Any said officer upon receiving information that any such vehicle or item of special mobile equipment, which he has previously reported as stolen, has been recovered, shall immediately report the fact of such recovery to the local sheriff's office, police department, or department of public safety and to the department.