§17A-8-3. Action by department on report of stolen or embezzled vehicle or special mobile equipment.

The department upon receiving a report of a stolen or embezzled vehicle or any item of special mobile equipment as hereinbefore provided shall file and appropriately index the same and shall, if the same is registered or titled, immediately suspend such registration and/or certificate of title of the vehicle or item of special mobile equipment so reported, and shall not transfer the registration of the same until such time as it is notified in writing that such vehicle or item of special mobile equipment has been recovered.

The department shall at least once each week compile and maintain at its headquarters office a list of all vehicles or items of special mobile equipment which have been stolen or embezzled or recovered as reported to it during the preceding week and such list shall be open to inspection by any peace officer or other person interested in any such vehicle or item of special mobile equipment. A copy of each such weekly list shall be forwarded to the superintendent of the department of public safety.

The department shall publish once a month a list of all vehicles or items of special mobile equipment stolen, embezzled or recovered during the previous month and shall forward a copy of the same to every sheriff and to all police departments in cities of this state with over five thousand inhabitants. Such list shall also be forwarded to the State Police department or other proper official in each state of the United States.