SB1519 EngrossedLRB101 06089 TAE 51110 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Sections 4-216 and 11-208.7 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/4-216)
7    Sec. 4-216. Storage fees; notice to lienholder of record.
8    (a) Any commercial vehicle relocator or any other private
9towing service providing removal or towing services pursuant to
10this Code and seeking to impose fees in connection with the
11furnishing of storage for a vehicle in the possession of the
12commercial vehicle relocator or other private towing service
13must provide written notice within 2 business days after the
14vehicle is removed or towed, by certified mail, return receipt
15requested, to the lienholder of record, regardless of whether
16the commercial vehicle relocator or other private towing
17service enforces a lien under the Labor and Storage Lien Act or
18the Labor and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. The notice shall
19be effective upon mailing and include the rate at which fees
20will be incurred, and shall provide the lienholder of record
21with an opportunity to inspect the vehicle on the premises
22where the vehicle is stored within 2 business days of the
23lienholder of record's lienholder's request. The date on which

 

 

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1the assessment and accrual of storage fees may commence is the
2date of the impoundment of the vehicle, subject to any
3applicable limitations set forth by a municipality authorizing
4the vehicle removal. Payment of the storage fees by the
5lienholder of record may be made in cash or by cashier's check,
6certified check, debit card, credit card, or wire transfer, at
7the option of the lienholder of record taking possession of the
8vehicle. The commercial vehicle relocator or other private
9towing service shall furnish a copy of the certified mail
10receipt to the lienholder of record upon request.
11    (b) The notification requirements in subsection (a) of this
12Section apply in addition to any lienholder of record notice
13requirements under this Code relating to the removal or towing
14of an abandoned, lost, stolen, or unclaimed vehicle. If the
15commercial vehicle relocator or other private towing service
16fails to comply with the notification requirements set forth in
17subsection (a) of this Section, storage fees shall not be
18assessed and collected and the lienholder of record shall be
19entitled to injunctive relief for possession of the vehicle
20without the payment of any storage fees.
21    (c) If the notification required under subsection (a) was
22not sent and a lienholder of record discovers its collateral is
23in the possession of a commercial vehicle relocator or other
24private towing service by means other than the notification
25required in subsection (a) of this Section, the lienholder of
26record is entitled to recover any storage fees paid to the

 

 

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1commercial vehicle relocator or other private towing service to
2reclaim possession of its collateral.
3    (d) An action under this Section may be brought by the
4lienholder of record against the commercial vehicle locator or
5other private towing service in the circuit court.
6    (e) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this
7Code, a commercial vehicle relocator or other private towing
8service seeking to impose storage fees for a vehicle in its
9possession may not foreclose or otherwise enforce its claim for
10payment of storage services or any lien relating to the claim
11pursuant to this Code or other applicable law unless it first
12complies with the lienholder of record notification
13requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this Section.
14    (f) If the vehicle that is removed or towed is registered
15in a state other than Illinois, the assessment and accrual of
16storage fees may commence on the date that the request for
17lienholder of record information is filed by the commercial
18vehicle relocator or other private towing service with the
19applicable administrative agency or office in that state if:
20(i) the commercial vehicle relocator or other private towing
21service furnishes the lienholder of record with a copy or proof
22of filing of the request for lienholder of record information;
23(ii) the commercial vehicle relocator or other private towing
24service provides to the lienholder of record the notification
25required by this Section within one business day after
26receiving the requested lienholder of record information; and

 

 

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1(iii) the assessment of storage fees complies with any
2applicable limitations set forth by a municipality authorizing
3the vehicle removal.
4(Source: P.A. 100-311, eff. 11-23-17; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)
 
5    (625 ILCS 5/11-208.7)
6    Sec. 11-208.7. Administrative fees and procedures for
7impounding vehicles for specified violations.
8    (a) Any county or municipality may, consistent with this
9Section, provide by ordinance procedures for the release of
10properly impounded vehicles and for the imposition of a
11reasonable administrative fee related to its administrative
12and processing costs associated with the investigation,
13arrest, and detention of an offender, or the removal,
14impoundment, storage, and release of the vehicle. The
15administrative fee imposed by the county or municipality may be
16in addition to any fees charged for the towing and storage of
17an impounded vehicle. The administrative fee shall be waived by
18the county or municipality upon verifiable proof that the
19vehicle was stolen at the time the vehicle was impounded.
20    (b) An ordinance establishing procedures for the release of
21properly impounded vehicles under this Section may impose fees
22only for the following violations:
23        (1) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the
24    commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense for
25    which a motor vehicle may be seized and forfeited pursuant

 

 

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1    to Section 36-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012; or
2        (2) driving under the influence of alcohol, another
3    drug or drugs, an intoxicating compound or compounds, or
4    any combination thereof, in violation of Section 11-501 of
5    this Code; or
6        (3) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the
7    commission of, or in the attempt to commit, a felony or in
8    violation of the Cannabis Control Act; or
9        (4) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the
10    commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense in
11    violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act; or
12        (5) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the
13    commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense in
14    violation of Section 24-1, 24-1.5, or 24-3.1 of the
15    Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; or
16        (6) driving while a driver's license, permit, or
17    privilege to operate a motor vehicle is suspended or
18    revoked pursuant to Section 6-303 of this Code; except that
19    vehicles shall not be subjected to seizure or impoundment
20    if the suspension is for an unpaid citation (parking or
21    moving) or due to failure to comply with emission testing;
22    or
23        (7) operation or use of a motor vehicle while
24    soliciting, possessing, or attempting to solicit or
25    possess cannabis or a controlled substance, as defined by
26    the Cannabis Control Act or the Illinois Controlled

 

 

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1    Substances Act; or
2        (8) operation or use of a motor vehicle with an expired
3    driver's license, in violation of Section 6-101 of this
4    Code, if the period of expiration is greater than one year;
5    or
6        (9) operation or use of a motor vehicle without ever
7    having been issued a driver's license or permit, in
8    violation of Section 6-101 of this Code, or operating a
9    motor vehicle without ever having been issued a driver's
10    license or permit due to a person's age; or
11        (10) operation or use of a motor vehicle by a person
12    against whom a warrant has been issued by a circuit clerk
13    in Illinois for failing to answer charges that the driver
14    violated Section 6-101, 6-303, or 11-501 of this Code; or
15        (11) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the
16    commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense in
17    violation of Article 16 or 16A of the Criminal Code of 1961
18    or the Criminal Code of 2012; or
19        (12) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the
20    commission of, or in the attempt to commit, any other
21    misdemeanor or felony offense in violation of the Criminal
22    Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, when so provided
23    by local ordinance; or
24        (13) operation or use of a motor vehicle in violation
25    of Section 11-503 of this Code:
26            (A) while the vehicle is part of a funeral

 

 

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1        procession; or
2            (B) in a manner that interferes with a funeral
3        procession.
4    (c) The following shall apply to any fees imposed for
5administrative and processing costs pursuant to subsection
6(b):
7        (1) All administrative fees and towing and storage
8    charges shall be imposed on the registered owner of the
9    motor vehicle or the agents of that owner.
10        (2) The fees shall be in addition to (i) any other
11    penalties that may be assessed by a court of law for the
12    underlying violations; and (ii) any towing or storage fees,
13    or both, charged by the towing company.
14        (3) The fees shall be uniform for all similarly
15    situated vehicles.
16        (4) The fees shall be collected by and paid to the
17    county or municipality imposing the fees.
18        (5) The towing or storage fees, or both, shall be
19    collected by and paid to the person, firm, or entity that
20    tows and stores the impounded vehicle.
21    (d) Any ordinance establishing procedures for the release
22of properly impounded vehicles under this Section shall provide
23for an opportunity for a hearing, as provided in subdivision
24(b)(4) of Section 11-208.3 of this Code, and for the release of
25the vehicle to the owner of record, lessee, or a lienholder of
26record upon payment of all administrative fees and towing and

 

 

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1storage fees.
2    (e) Any ordinance establishing procedures for the
3impoundment and release of vehicles under this Section shall
4include the following provisions concerning notice of
5impoundment:
6        (1) Whenever a police officer has cause to believe that
7    a motor vehicle is subject to impoundment, the officer
8    shall provide for the towing of the vehicle to a facility
9    authorized by the county or municipality.
10        (2) At the time the vehicle is towed, the county or
11    municipality shall notify, as soon as practicable, or make
12    a reasonable attempt to notify the owner, lessee, or person
13    identifying himself or herself as the owner or lessee of
14    the vehicle, or any person who is found to be in control of
15    the vehicle at the time of the alleged offense, of the fact
16    of the seizure, and of the vehicle owner's or lessee's
17    right to an administrative hearing. Notice shall be given
18    by the towing company to the lienholder of record pursuant
19    to Section 4-216 of this Code.
20        (3) The county or municipality shall also provide
21    notice that the motor vehicle will remain impounded pending
22    the completion of an administrative hearing, unless the
23    owner or lessee of the vehicle or a lienholder posts with
24    the county or municipality a bond equal to the
25    administrative fee as provided by ordinance and pays for
26    all towing and storage charges.

 

 

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1    (f) Any ordinance establishing procedures for the
2impoundment and release of vehicles under this Section shall
3include a provision providing that the registered owner or
4lessee of the vehicle and any lienholder of record shall be
5provided with a notice of hearing. The notice shall:
6        (1) be served upon the owner, lessee, and any
7    lienholder of record either by personal service or by first
8    class mail to the interested party's address as registered
9    with the Secretary of State;
10        (2) be served upon interested parties within 10 days
11    after a vehicle is impounded by the municipality; and
12        (3) contain the date, time, and location of the
13    administrative hearing. An initial hearing shall be
14    scheduled and convened no later than 45 days after the date
15    of the mailing of the notice of hearing.
16    (g) In addition to the requirements contained in
17subdivision (b)(4) of Section 11-208.3 of this Code relating to
18administrative hearings, any ordinance providing for the
19impoundment and release of vehicles under this Section shall
20include the following requirements concerning administrative
21hearings:
22        (1) administrative hearings shall be conducted by a
23    hearing officer who is an attorney licensed to practice law
24    in this State for a minimum of 3 years;
25        (2) at the conclusion of the administrative hearing,
26    the hearing officer shall issue a written decision either

 

 

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1    sustaining or overruling the vehicle impoundment;
2        (3) if the basis for the vehicle impoundment is
3    sustained by the administrative hearing officer, any
4    administrative fee posted to secure the release of the
5    vehicle shall be forfeited to the county or municipality;
6        (4) all final decisions of the administrative hearing
7    officer shall be subject to review under the provisions of
8    the Administrative Review Law, unless the county or
9    municipality allows in the enabling ordinance for direct
10    appeal to the circuit court having jurisdiction over the
11    county or municipality;
12        (5) unless the administrative hearing officer
13    overturns the basis for the vehicle impoundment, no vehicle
14    shall be released to the owner, lessee, or lienholder of
15    record until all administrative fees and towing and storage
16    charges are paid; and
17        (6) if the administrative hearing officer finds that a
18    county or municipality that impounds a vehicle exceeded its
19    authority under this Code, the county or municipality shall
20    be liable to the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle
21    for the cost of storage fees and reasonable attorney's
22    fees.
23    (h) Vehicles not retrieved from the towing facility or
24storage facility within 35 days after the administrative
25hearing officer issues a written decision shall be deemed
26abandoned and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of

 

 

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1Article II of Chapter 4 of this Code.
2    (i) Unless stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction, any
3fine, penalty, or administrative fee imposed under this Section
4which remains unpaid in whole or in part after the expiration
5of the deadline for seeking judicial review under the
6Administrative Review Law may be enforced in the same manner as
7a judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
8    (j) The fee limits in subsection (b), the exceptions in
9paragraph (6) of subsection (b), and all of paragraph (6) of
10subsection (g) of this Section shall not apply to a home rule
11unit that tows a vehicle on a public way if a circumstance
12requires the towing of the vehicle or if the vehicle is towed
13due to a violation of a statute or local ordinance, and the
14home rule unit:
15        (1) owns and operates a towing facility within its
16    boundaries for the storage of towed vehicles; and
17        (2) owns and operates tow trucks or enters into a
18    contract with a third party vendor to operate tow trucks.
19    (k) Pursuant to Section 4-216 of this Code, the lienholder
20of record shall have an opportunity to view the vehicle on the
21premises where the vehicle is located within 2 business days of
22the request.
23    (l) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
24of the 101st General Assembly do not apply to a municipality
25with a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants.
26(Source: P.A. 98-518, eff. 8-22-13; 98-734, eff. 1-1-15;

 

 

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198-756, eff. 7-16-14; 99-848, eff. 8-19-16.)
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect 90 days
3after becoming law.