Sen. Laura M. Murphy

Filed: 2/7/2022

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3629

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3629 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
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

 

 

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1highway other than a toll highway, interstate highway, or
2expressway, outside of an urban district for 24 hours or more,
3its removal by a towing service may be authorized by a law
4enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
5    (d) When an abandoned, unattended, wrecked, burned or
6partially dismantled vehicle is creating a traffic hazard
7because of its position in relation to the highway or its
8physical appearance is causing the impeding of traffic, its
9immediate removal from the highway or private property
10adjacent to the highway by a towing service may be authorized
11by a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
12    (e) Whenever a peace officer reasonably believes that a
13person under arrest for a violation of Section 11-501 of this
14Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance is likely,
15upon release, to commit a subsequent violation of Section
1611-501, or a similar provision of a local ordinance, the
17arresting officer shall have the vehicle which the person was
18operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a period of
1912 hours after the time of arrest. However, such vehicle may be
20released by the arresting law enforcement agency prior to the
21end of the impoundment period if:
22        (1) the vehicle was not owned by the person under
23    arrest, and the lawful owner requesting such release
24    possesses a valid operator's license, proof of ownership,
25    and would not, as determined by the arresting law
26    enforcement agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate

 

 

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1    a motor vehicle in a safe manner, or who would otherwise,
2    by operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this
3    Code; or
4        (2) the vehicle is owned by the person under arrest,
5    and the person under arrest gives permission to another
6    person to operate such vehicle, provided however, that the
7    other person possesses a valid operator's license and
8    would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement
9    agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor
10    vehicle in a safe manner or who would otherwise, by
11    operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this
12    Code.
13    (e-5) Whenever a registered owner of a vehicle is taken
14into custody for operating the vehicle in violation of Section
1511-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance
16or Section 6-303 of this Code, a law enforcement officer may
17have the vehicle immediately impounded for a period not less
18than:
19        (1) 24 hours for a second violation of Section 11-501
20    of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
21    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
22    offenses; or
23        (2) 48 hours for a third violation of Section 11-501
24    of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
25    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
26    offenses.

 

 

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1    The vehicle may be released sooner if the vehicle is owned
2by the person under arrest and the person under arrest gives
3permission to another person to operate the vehicle and that
4other person possesses a valid operator's license and would
5not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency,
6indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe
7manner or would otherwise, by operating the motor vehicle, be
8in violation of this Code.
9    (f) Except as provided in Chapter 18a of this Code, the
10owner or lessor of privately owned real property within this
11State, or any person authorized by such owner or lessor, or any
12law enforcement agency in the case of publicly owned real
13property may cause any motor vehicle abandoned or left
14unattended upon such property without permission to be removed
15by a towing service without liability for the costs of
16removal, transportation or storage or damage caused by such
17removal, transportation or storage. The towing or removal of
18any vehicle from private property without the consent of the
19registered owner or other legally authorized person in control
20of the vehicle is subject to compliance with the following
21conditions and restrictions:
22        1. Any towed or removed vehicle must be stored at the
23    site of the towing service's place of business. The site
24    must be open during business hours, and for the purpose of
25    redemption of vehicles, during the time that the person or
26    firm towing such vehicle is open for towing purposes.

 

 

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1        2. The towing service shall within 30 minutes of
2    completion of such towing or removal, notify the law
3    enforcement agency having jurisdiction of such towing or
4    removal, and the make, model, color and license plate
5    number of the vehicle, and shall obtain and record the
6    name of the person at the law enforcement agency to whom
7    such information was reported.
8        3. If the registered owner or legally authorized
9    person entitled to possession of the vehicle shall arrive
10    at the scene prior to actual removal or towing of the
11    vehicle, the vehicle shall be disconnected from the tow
12    truck and that person shall be allowed to remove the
13    vehicle without interference, upon the payment of a
14    reasonable service fee of not more than one half the
15    posted rate of the towing service as provided in paragraph
16    6 of this subsection, for which a receipt shall be given.
17        4. The rebate or payment of money or any other
18    valuable consideration from the towing service or its
19    owners, managers or employees to the owners or operators
20    of the premises from which the vehicles are towed or
21    removed, for the privilege of removing or towing those
22    vehicles, is prohibited. Any individual who violates this
23    paragraph shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
24        5. Except for property appurtenant to and obviously a
25    part of a single family residence, and except for
26    instances where notice is personally given to the owner or

 

 

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1    other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle
2    that the area in which that vehicle is parked is reserved
3    or otherwise unavailable to unauthorized vehicles and they
4    are subject to being removed at the owner or operator's
5    expense, any property owner or lessor, prior to towing or
6    removing any vehicle from private property without the
7    consent of the owner or other legally authorized person in
8    control of that vehicle, must post a notice meeting the
9    following requirements:
10            a. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph
11        a.1 of this subdivision (f)5, the notice must be
12        prominently placed at each driveway access or curb cut
13        allowing vehicular access to the property within 5
14        feet from the public right-of-way line. If there are
15        no curbs or access barriers, the sign must be posted
16        not less than one sign each 100 feet of lot frontage.
17            a.1. In a municipality with a population of less
18        than 250,000, as an alternative to the requirement of
19        subparagraph a of this subdivision (f)5, the notice
20        for a parking lot contained within property used
21        solely for a 2-family, 3-family, or 4-family residence
22        may be prominently placed at the perimeter of the
23        parking lot, in a position where the notice is visible
24        to the occupants of vehicles entering the lot.
25            b. The notice must indicate clearly, in not less
26        than 2 inch high light-reflective letters on a

 

 

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1        contrasting background, that unauthorized vehicles
2        will be towed away at the owner's expense.
3            c. The notice must also provide the name and
4        current telephone number of the towing service towing
5        or removing the vehicle.
6            d. The sign structure containing the required
7        notices must be permanently installed with the bottom
8        of the sign not less than 4 feet above ground level,
9        and must be continuously maintained on the property
10        for not less than 24 hours prior to the towing or
11        removing of any vehicle.
12        6. Any towing service that tows or removes vehicles
13    and proposes to require the owner, operator, or person in
14    control of the vehicle to pay the costs of towing and
15    storage prior to redemption of the vehicle must file and
16    keep on record with the local law enforcement agency a
17    complete copy of the current rates to be charged for such
18    services, and post at the storage site an identical rate
19    schedule and any written contracts with property owners,
20    lessors, or persons in control of property which authorize
21    them to remove vehicles as provided in this Section. The
22    towing and storage charges, however, shall not exceed the
23    maximum allowed by the Illinois Commerce Commission under
24    Section 18a-200.
25        7. No person shall engage in the removal of vehicles
26    from private property as described in this Section without

 

 

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1    filing a notice of intent in each community where he
2    intends to do such removal, and such notice shall be filed
3    at least 7 days before commencing such towing.
4        8. No removal of a vehicle from private property shall
5    be done except upon express written instructions of the
6    owners or persons in charge of the private property upon
7    which the vehicle is said to be trespassing. If the owner
8    or other legally authorized person in control of a vehicle
9    has an agreement with the owner or owner's agent of the
10    property from which the vehicle was nonconsensually towed
11    permitting the vehicle to be parked on the property, and
12    the property owner or owner's agent fails to give personal
13    notice of the tow to the owner or other legally authorized
14    person in control of the vehicle, the property owner or
15    owner's agent shall be liable to the owner or other
16    legally authorized person in control of the vehicle for
17    towing charges and storage charges accrued through release
18    of the vehicle that were paid by or on behalf of the owner
19    or other legally authorized person in control of the
20    vehicle to secure the release of the vehicle.
21        9. Vehicle entry for the purpose of removal shall be
22    allowed with reasonable care on the part of the person or
23    firm towing the vehicle. Such person or firm shall be
24    liable for any damages occasioned to the vehicle if such
25    entry is not in accordance with the standards of
26    reasonable care.

 

 

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1        9.5. Except as authorized by a law enforcement
2    officer, no towing service shall engage in the removal of
3    a commercial motor vehicle that requires a commercial
4    driver's license to operate by operating the vehicle under
5    its own power on a highway.
6        10. When a vehicle has been towed or removed pursuant
7    to this Section, it must be released to its owner,
8    custodian, agent, or lienholder within one half hour after
9    requested, if such request is made during business hours.
10    Any vehicle owner, custodian, agent, or lienholder shall
11    have the right to inspect the vehicle before accepting its
12    return, and no release or waiver of any kind which would
13    release the towing service from liability for damages
14    incurred during the towing and storage may be required
15    from any vehicle owner or other legally authorized person
16    as a condition of release of the vehicle. A detailed,
17    signed receipt showing the legal name of the towing
18    service must be given to the person paying towing or
19    storage charges at the time of payment, whether requested
20    or not.
21        This Section shall not apply to law enforcement,
22    firefighting, rescue, ambulance, or other emergency
23    vehicles which are marked as such or to property owned by
24    any governmental entity.
25        When an authorized person improperly causes a motor
26    vehicle to be removed, such person shall be liable to the

 

 

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1    owner or lessee of the vehicle for the cost or removal,
2    transportation and storage, any damages resulting from the
3    removal, transportation and storage, attorney's fee and
4    court costs.
5        Any towing or storage charges accrued shall be payable
6    in cash or by cashier's check, certified check, debit
7    card, credit card, or wire transfer, at the option of the
8    party taking possession of the vehicle.
9        11. Towing companies shall also provide insurance
10    coverage for areas where vehicles towed under the
11    provisions of this Chapter will be impounded or otherwise
12    stored, and shall adequately cover loss by fire, theft or
13    other risks.
14    Any person who fails to comply with the conditions and
15restrictions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class C
16misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than
17$500.
18    (g)(1) When a vehicle is determined to be a hazardous
19dilapidated motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11-40-3.1 of the
20Illinois Municipal Code or Section 5-12002.1 of the Counties
21Code, its removal and impoundment by a towing service may be
22authorized by a law enforcement agency with appropriate
23jurisdiction.
24    (2) When a vehicle removal from either public or private
25property is authorized by a law enforcement agency, the owner
26of the vehicle shall be responsible for all towing and storage

 

 

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1charges.
2    (3) Vehicles removed from public or private property and
3stored by a commercial vehicle relocator or any other towing
4service authorized by a law enforcement agency in compliance
5with this Section and Sections 4-201 and 4-202 of this Code, or
6at the request of the vehicle owner or operator, shall be
7subject to a possessor lien for services pursuant to the Labor
8and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. The provisions of Section
91 of that Act relating to notice and implied consent shall be
10deemed satisfied by compliance with Section 18a-302 and
11subsection (6) of Section 18a-300. In no event shall such lien
12be greater than the rate or rates established in accordance
13with subsection (6) of Section 18a-200 of this Code. In no
14event shall such lien be increased or altered to reflect any
15charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
16authorized by this Code. Every such lien shall be payable in
17cash or by cashier's check, certified check, debit card,
18credit card, or wire transfer, at the option of the party
19taking possession of the vehicle.
20    (4) Any personal property belonging to the vehicle owner
21in a vehicle subject to a lien under this subsection (g) shall
22likewise be subject to that lien, excepting only: child
23restraint systems as defined in Section 4 of the Child
24Passenger Protection Act and other child booster seats;
25eyeglasses; food; medicine; perishable property; any
26operator's licenses; any cash, credit cards, or checks or

 

 

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1checkbooks; any wallet, purse, or other property containing
2any operator's license or other identifying documents or
3materials, cash, credit cards, checks, or checkbooks; and any
4personal property belonging to a person other than the vehicle
5owner if that person provides adequate proof that the personal
6property belongs to that person. The spouse, child, mother,
7father, brother, or sister of the vehicle owner may claim
8personal property excepted under this paragraph (4) if the
9person claiming the personal property provides the commercial
10vehicle relocator or towing service with the authorization of
11the vehicle owner.
12    (5) This paragraph (5) applies only in the case of a
13vehicle that is towed as a result of being involved in an
14accident. In addition to the personal property excepted under
15paragraph (4), all other personal property in a vehicle
16subject to a lien under this subsection (g) is exempt from that
17lien and may be claimed by the vehicle owner if the vehicle
18owner provides the commercial vehicle relocator or towing
19service with proof that the vehicle owner has an insurance
20policy covering towing and storage fees. The spouse, child,
21mother, father, brother, or sister of the vehicle owner may
22claim personal property in a vehicle subject to a lien under
23this subsection (g) if the person claiming the personal
24property provides the commercial vehicle relocator or towing
25service with the authorization of the vehicle owner and proof
26that the vehicle owner has an insurance policy covering towing

 

 

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1and storage fees. The regulation of liens on personal property
2and exceptions to those liens in the case of vehicles towed as
3a result of being involved in an accident are exclusive powers
4and functions of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate
5liens on personal property and exceptions to those liens in
6the case of vehicles towed as a result of being involved in an
7accident. This paragraph (5) is a denial and limitation of
8home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section
96 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
10    (6) No lien under this subsection (g) shall: exceed $2,000
11in its total amount; or be increased or altered to reflect any
12charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
13authorized by this Code.
14    (h) Whenever a peace officer issues a citation to a driver
15for a violation of subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this
16Code, the arresting officer may have the vehicle which the
17person was operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a
18period of 5 days after the time of arrest. An impounding agency
19shall release a motor vehicle impounded under this subsection
20(h) to the registered owner of the vehicle under any of the
21following circumstances:
22        (1) If the vehicle is a stolen vehicle; or
23        (2) If the person ticketed for a violation of
24    subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this Code was not
25    authorized by the registered owner of the vehicle to
26    operate the vehicle at the time of the violation; or

 

 

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1        (3) If the registered owner of the vehicle was neither
2    the driver nor a passenger in the vehicle at the time of
3    the violation or was unaware that the driver was using the
4    vehicle to engage in street racing; or
5        (4) If the legal owner or registered owner of the
6    vehicle is a rental car agency; or
7        (5) If, prior to the expiration of the impoundment
8    period specified above, the citation is dismissed or the
9    defendant is found not guilty of the offense.
10    (i) Except for vehicles exempted under subsection (b) of
11Section 7-601 of this Code, whenever a law enforcement officer
12issues a citation to a driver for a violation of Section 3-707
13of this Code, and the driver has a prior conviction for a
14violation of Section 3-707 of this Code in the past 12 months,
15the arresting officer shall authorize the removal and
16impoundment of the vehicle by a towing service.
17(Source: P.A. 99-438, eff. 1-1-16; 100-311, eff. 11-23-17;
18100-537, eff. 6-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)".