102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB3629

 

Introduced 1/19/2022, by Sen. Laura M. Murphy

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/4-203  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-203
770 ILCS 50/1.5
770 ILCS 50/2  from Ch. 82, par. 47b

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a vehicle owner has a legal agreement with the owner of private property permitting the vehicle owner to park on the property, the owner or person in charge of the private property shall provide notice of a tow of the vehicle that is personally given to the owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle. Amends the Labor and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. Provides that notice of a lien sale shall be personally given to the owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle, in addition to written notice that is provided by certified mail, return receipt requested. Provides that the notice is effective upon the owner or other legally authorized person in control of the of the vehicle personally receiving notice, rather than upon the mailing of the notice. Makes a corresponding change.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB3629LRB102 23455 RAM 32629 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
5changing Section 4-203 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/4-203)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-203)
7    Sec. 4-203. Removal of motor vehicles or other vehicles;
8towing or hauling away.
9    (a) When a vehicle is abandoned, or left unattended, on a
10toll highway, interstate highway, or expressway for 2 hours or
11more, its removal by a towing service may be authorized by a
12law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
13    (b) When a vehicle is abandoned on a highway in an urban
14district 10 hours or more, its removal by a towing service may
15be authorized by a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
16    (c) When a vehicle is abandoned or left unattended on a
17highway other than a toll highway, interstate highway, or
18expressway, outside of an urban district for 24 hours or more,
19its removal by a towing service may be authorized by a law
20enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
21    (d) When an abandoned, unattended, wrecked, burned or
22partially dismantled vehicle is creating a traffic hazard
23because of its position in relation to the highway or its

 

 

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1physical appearance is causing the impeding of traffic, its
2immediate removal from the highway or private property
3adjacent to the highway by a towing service may be authorized
4by a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
5    (e) Whenever a peace officer reasonably believes that a
6person under arrest for a violation of Section 11-501 of this
7Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance is likely,
8upon release, to commit a subsequent violation of Section
911-501, or a similar provision of a local ordinance, the
10arresting officer shall have the vehicle which the person was
11operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a period of
1212 hours after the time of arrest. However, such vehicle may be
13released by the arresting law enforcement agency prior to the
14end of the impoundment period if:
15        (1) the vehicle was not owned by the person under
16    arrest, and the lawful owner requesting such release
17    possesses a valid operator's license, proof of ownership,
18    and would not, as determined by the arresting law
19    enforcement agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate
20    a motor vehicle in a safe manner, or who would otherwise,
21    by operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this
22    Code; or
23        (2) the vehicle is owned by the person under arrest,
24    and the person under arrest gives permission to another
25    person to operate such vehicle, provided however, that the
26    other person possesses a valid operator's license and

 

 

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1    would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement
2    agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor
3    vehicle in a safe manner or who would otherwise, by
4    operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this
5    Code.
6    (e-5) Whenever a registered owner of a vehicle is taken
7into custody for operating the vehicle in violation of Section
811-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance
9or Section 6-303 of this Code, a law enforcement officer may
10have the vehicle immediately impounded for a period not less
11than:
12        (1) 24 hours for a second violation of Section 11-501
13    of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
14    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
15    offenses; or
16        (2) 48 hours for a third violation of Section 11-501
17    of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
18    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
19    offenses.
20    The vehicle may be released sooner if the vehicle is owned
21by the person under arrest and the person under arrest gives
22permission to another person to operate the vehicle and that
23other person possesses a valid operator's license and would
24not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency,
25indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe
26manner or would otherwise, by operating the motor vehicle, be

 

 

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1in violation of this Code.
2    (f) Except as provided in Chapter 18a of this Code, the
3owner or lessor of privately owned real property within this
4State, or any person authorized by such owner or lessor, or any
5law enforcement agency in the case of publicly owned real
6property may cause any motor vehicle abandoned or left
7unattended upon such property without permission to be removed
8by a towing service without liability for the costs of
9removal, transportation or storage or damage caused by such
10removal, transportation or storage. The towing or removal of
11any vehicle from private property without the consent of the
12registered owner or other legally authorized person in control
13of the vehicle is subject to compliance with the following
14conditions and restrictions:
15        1. Any towed or removed vehicle must be stored at the
16    site of the towing service's place of business. The site
17    must be open during business hours, and for the purpose of
18    redemption of vehicles, during the time that the person or
19    firm towing such vehicle is open for towing purposes.
20        2. The towing service shall within 30 minutes of
21    completion of such towing or removal, notify the law
22    enforcement agency having jurisdiction of such towing or
23    removal, and the make, model, color and license plate
24    number of the vehicle, and shall obtain and record the
25    name of the person at the law enforcement agency to whom
26    such information was reported.

 

 

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1        3. If the registered owner or legally authorized
2    person entitled to possession of the vehicle shall arrive
3    at the scene prior to actual removal or towing of the
4    vehicle, the vehicle shall be disconnected from the tow
5    truck and that person shall be allowed to remove the
6    vehicle without interference, upon the payment of a
7    reasonable service fee of not more than one half the
8    posted rate of the towing service as provided in paragraph
9    6 of this subsection, for which a receipt shall be given.
10        4. The rebate or payment of money or any other
11    valuable consideration from the towing service or its
12    owners, managers or employees to the owners or operators
13    of the premises from which the vehicles are towed or
14    removed, for the privilege of removing or towing those
15    vehicles, is prohibited. Any individual who violates this
16    paragraph shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
17        5. Except for property appurtenant to and obviously a
18    part of a single family residence, and except for
19    instances where notice is personally given to the owner or
20    other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle
21    that the area in which that vehicle is parked is reserved
22    or otherwise unavailable to unauthorized vehicles and they
23    are subject to being removed at the owner or operator's
24    expense, any property owner or lessor, prior to towing or
25    removing any vehicle from private property without the
26    consent of the owner or other legally authorized person in

 

 

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1    control of that vehicle, must post a notice meeting the
2    following requirements:
3            a. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph
4        a.1 of this subdivision (f)5, the notice must be
5        prominently placed at each driveway access or curb cut
6        allowing vehicular access to the property within 5
7        feet from the public right-of-way line. If there are
8        no curbs or access barriers, the sign must be posted
9        not less than one sign each 100 feet of lot frontage.
10            a.1. In a municipality with a population of less
11        than 250,000, as an alternative to the requirement of
12        subparagraph a of this subdivision (f)5, the notice
13        for a parking lot contained within property used
14        solely for a 2-family, 3-family, or 4-family residence
15        may be prominently placed at the perimeter of the
16        parking lot, in a position where the notice is visible
17        to the occupants of vehicles entering the lot.
18            b. The notice must indicate clearly, in not less
19        than 2 inch high light-reflective letters on a
20        contrasting background, that unauthorized vehicles
21        will be towed away at the owner's expense.
22            c. The notice must also provide the name and
23        current telephone number of the towing service towing
24        or removing the vehicle.
25            d. The sign structure containing the required
26        notices must be permanently installed with the bottom

 

 

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1        of the sign not less than 4 feet above ground level,
2        and must be continuously maintained on the property
3        for not less than 24 hours prior to the towing or
4        removing of any vehicle.
5        6. Any towing service that tows or removes vehicles
6    and proposes to require the owner, operator, or person in
7    control of the vehicle to pay the costs of towing and
8    storage prior to redemption of the vehicle must file and
9    keep on record with the local law enforcement agency a
10    complete copy of the current rates to be charged for such
11    services, and post at the storage site an identical rate
12    schedule and any written contracts with property owners,
13    lessors, or persons in control of property which authorize
14    them to remove vehicles as provided in this Section. The
15    towing and storage charges, however, shall not exceed the
16    maximum allowed by the Illinois Commerce Commission under
17    Section 18a-200.
18        7. No person shall engage in the removal of vehicles
19    from private property as described in this Section without
20    filing a notice of intent in each community where he
21    intends to do such removal, and such notice shall be filed
22    at least 7 days before commencing such towing.
23        8. No removal of a vehicle from private property shall
24    be done except upon express written instructions of the
25    owners or persons in charge of the private property upon
26    which the vehicle is said to be trespassing. If a vehicle

 

 

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1    owner has a legal agreement with the owner of private
2    property permitting the vehicle owner to park on the
3    property, the owner or person in charge of the private
4    property shall provide notice of the tow that is
5    personally given to the owner or other legally authorized
6    person in control of the vehicle.
7        9. Vehicle entry for the purpose of removal shall be
8    allowed with reasonable care on the part of the person or
9    firm towing the vehicle. Such person or firm shall be
10    liable for any damages occasioned to the vehicle if such
11    entry is not in accordance with the standards of
12    reasonable care.
13        9.5. Except as authorized by a law enforcement
14    officer, no towing service shall engage in the removal of
15    a commercial motor vehicle that requires a commercial
16    driver's license to operate by operating the vehicle under
17    its own power on a highway.
18        10. When a vehicle has been towed or removed pursuant
19    to this Section, it must be released to its owner,
20    custodian, agent, or lienholder within one half hour after
21    requested, if such request is made during business hours.
22    Any vehicle owner, custodian, agent, or lienholder shall
23    have the right to inspect the vehicle before accepting its
24    return, and no release or waiver of any kind which would
25    release the towing service from liability for damages
26    incurred during the towing and storage may be required

 

 

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1    from any vehicle owner or other legally authorized person
2    as a condition of release of the vehicle. A detailed,
3    signed receipt showing the legal name of the towing
4    service must be given to the person paying towing or
5    storage charges at the time of payment, whether requested
6    or not.
7        This Section shall not apply to law enforcement,
8    firefighting, rescue, ambulance, or other emergency
9    vehicles which are marked as such or to property owned by
10    any governmental entity.
11        When an authorized person improperly causes a motor
12    vehicle to be removed, such person shall be liable to the
13    owner or lessee of the vehicle for the cost or removal,
14    transportation and storage, any damages resulting from the
15    removal, transportation and storage, attorney's fee and
16    court costs.
17        Any towing or storage charges accrued shall be payable
18    in cash or by cashier's check, certified check, debit
19    card, credit card, or wire transfer, at the option of the
20    party taking possession of the vehicle.
21        11. Towing companies shall also provide insurance
22    coverage for areas where vehicles towed under the
23    provisions of this Chapter will be impounded or otherwise
24    stored, and shall adequately cover loss by fire, theft or
25    other risks.
26    Any person who fails to comply with the conditions and

 

 

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1restrictions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class C
2misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than
3$500.
4    (g)(1) When a vehicle is determined to be a hazardous
5dilapidated motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11-40-3.1 of the
6Illinois Municipal Code or Section 5-12002.1 of the Counties
7Code, its removal and impoundment by a towing service may be
8authorized by a law enforcement agency with appropriate
9jurisdiction.
10    (2) When a vehicle removal from either public or private
11property is authorized by a law enforcement agency, the owner
12of the vehicle shall be responsible for all towing and storage
13charges.
14    (3) Vehicles removed from public or private property and
15stored by a commercial vehicle relocator or any other towing
16service authorized by a law enforcement agency in compliance
17with this Section and Sections 4-201 and 4-202 of this Code, or
18at the request of the vehicle owner or operator, shall be
19subject to a possessor lien for services pursuant to the Labor
20and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. The provisions of Section
211 of that Act relating to notice and implied consent shall be
22deemed satisfied by compliance with Section 18a-302 and
23subsection (6) of Section 18a-300. In no event shall such lien
24be greater than the rate or rates established in accordance
25with subsection (6) of Section 18a-200 of this Code. In no
26event shall such lien be increased or altered to reflect any

 

 

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1charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
2authorized by this Code. Every such lien shall be payable in
3cash or by cashier's check, certified check, debit card,
4credit card, or wire transfer, at the option of the party
5taking possession of the vehicle.
6    (4) Any personal property belonging to the vehicle owner
7in a vehicle subject to a lien under this subsection (g) shall
8likewise be subject to that lien, excepting only: child
9restraint systems as defined in Section 4 of the Child
10Passenger Protection Act and other child booster seats;
11eyeglasses; food; medicine; perishable property; any
12operator's licenses; any cash, credit cards, or checks or
13checkbooks; any wallet, purse, or other property containing
14any operator's license or other identifying documents or
15materials, cash, credit cards, checks, or checkbooks; and any
16personal property belonging to a person other than the vehicle
17owner if that person provides adequate proof that the personal
18property belongs to that person. The spouse, child, mother,
19father, brother, or sister of the vehicle owner may claim
20personal property excepted under this paragraph (4) if the
21person claiming the personal property provides the commercial
22vehicle relocator or towing service with the authorization of
23the vehicle owner.
24    (5) This paragraph (5) applies only in the case of a
25vehicle that is towed as a result of being involved in an
26accident. In addition to the personal property excepted under

 

 

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1paragraph (4), all other personal property in a vehicle
2subject to a lien under this subsection (g) is exempt from that
3lien and may be claimed by the vehicle owner if the vehicle
4owner provides the commercial vehicle relocator or towing
5service with proof that the vehicle owner has an insurance
6policy covering towing and storage fees. The spouse, child,
7mother, father, brother, or sister of the vehicle owner may
8claim personal property in a vehicle subject to a lien under
9this subsection (g) if the person claiming the personal
10property provides the commercial vehicle relocator or towing
11service with the authorization of the vehicle owner and proof
12that the vehicle owner has an insurance policy covering towing
13and storage fees. The regulation of liens on personal property
14and exceptions to those liens in the case of vehicles towed as
15a result of being involved in an accident are exclusive powers
16and functions of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate
17liens on personal property and exceptions to those liens in
18the case of vehicles towed as a result of being involved in an
19accident. This paragraph (5) is a denial and limitation of
20home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section
216 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
22    (6) No lien under this subsection (g) shall: exceed $2,000
23in its total amount; or be increased or altered to reflect any
24charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
25authorized by this Code.
26    (h) Whenever a peace officer issues a citation to a driver

 

 

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1for a violation of subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this
2Code, the arresting officer may have the vehicle which the
3person was operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a
4period of 5 days after the time of arrest. An impounding agency
5shall release a motor vehicle impounded under this subsection
6(h) to the registered owner of the vehicle under any of the
7following circumstances:
8        (1) If the vehicle is a stolen vehicle; or
9        (2) If the person ticketed for a violation of
10    subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this Code was not
11    authorized by the registered owner of the vehicle to
12    operate the vehicle at the time of the violation; or
13        (3) If the registered owner of the vehicle was neither
14    the driver nor a passenger in the vehicle at the time of
15    the violation or was unaware that the driver was using the
16    vehicle to engage in street racing; or
17        (4) If the legal owner or registered owner of the
18    vehicle is a rental car agency; or
19        (5) If, prior to the expiration of the impoundment
20    period specified above, the citation is dismissed or the
21    defendant is found not guilty of the offense.
22    (i) Except for vehicles exempted under subsection (b) of
23Section 7-601 of this Code, whenever a law enforcement officer
24issues a citation to a driver for a violation of Section 3-707
25of this Code, and the driver has a prior conviction for a
26violation of Section 3-707 of this Code in the past 12 months,

 

 

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1the arresting officer shall authorize the removal and
2impoundment of the vehicle by a towing service.
3(Source: P.A. 99-438, eff. 1-1-16; 100-311, eff. 11-23-17;
4100-537, eff. 6-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)
 
5    Section 10. The Labor and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act
6is amended by changing Sections 1.5 and 2 as follows:
 
7    (770 ILCS 50/1.5)
8    Sec. 1.5. Storage fees; notice to lienholder of record.
9    (a) Any person, firm, or private corporation seeking to
10impose fees in connection with the furnishing of storage for a
11vehicle in the person's, firm's, or corporation's possession
12must provide written notice personally given to the owner or
13other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle, in
14addition to written notice that is provided by , by certified
15mail, return receipt requested, to the lienholder of record
16prior to the assessment and accrual of such fees, regardless
17of whether it enforces a lien under this Act. The notice shall
18be effective upon the owner or other legally authorized person
19in control of the of the vehicle personally receiving notice,
20in addition to mailing, and include the rate at which fees will
21be incurred, and shall provide the lienholder with an
22opportunity to inspect the vehicle on the premises where the
23vehicle is stored within 2 business days of the lienholder's
24request. For impounded vehicles, the date on which the

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1storage fees complies with any applicable limitations set
2forth by a municipality authorizing the vehicle removal.
3    (g) This Section does not apply to a municipality with
41,000,000 or more inhabitants that is seeking to impose
5storage fees for a vehicle in its possession.
6(Source: P.A. 99-759, eff. 8-12-16; 100-311, eff. 11-23-17.)
 
7    (770 ILCS 50/2)  (from Ch. 82, par. 47b)
8    Sec. 2. Unless the chattel is redeemed within 90 days of
9the completion of the expenditure of such labor, services,
10skill, or material or furnishing of storage, or within 90 days
11of the date agreed upon for redemption, the lien may be
12enforced by a commercially reasonable public or private sale
13conducted so as to maximize the net proceeds of said sale as
14hereinafter provided. The public or private sale of a vehicle
15shall only be conducted upon the owner or other legally
16authorized person in control of the of the vehicle personally
17receiving notice of the sale under subsection (a) of Section
181.5.
19(Source: P.A. 85-1283.)