Rep. Chapin Rose

Filed: 11/16/2010

 

 


 

 


 
09600HB1935ham001LRB096 05252 HEP 43983 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1935

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1935 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 adjacent
10to the highway by a towing service may be authorized by a law
11enforcement 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
19not more than 12 hours after the time of arrest. However, such
20vehicle may be released by the arresting law enforcement agency
21prior to the end 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 a

 

 

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1    motor vehicle in a safe manner, or who would otherwise, by
2    operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this Code;
3    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 would
8    not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency,
9    indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a
10    safe manner or who would otherwise, by operating such motor
11    vehicle, be in violation of this Code.
12    (e-5) Whenever a registered owner of a vehicle is taken
13into custody for operating the vehicle in violation of Section
1411-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance
15or Section 6-303 of this Code, a law enforcement officer may
16have the vehicle immediately impounded for a period not less
17than:
18        (1) 24 hours for a second violation of Section 11-501
19    of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
20    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
21    offenses; or
22        (2) 48 hours for a third violation of Section 11-501 of
23    this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
24    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
25    offenses.
26    The vehicle may be released sooner if the vehicle is owned

 

 

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1by the person under arrest and the person under arrest gives
2permission to another person to operate the vehicle and that
3other person possesses a valid operator's license and would
4not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency,
5indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe
6manner or would otherwise, by operating the motor vehicle, be
7in violation of this Code.
8    (f) Except as provided in Chapter 18a of this Code, the
9owner or lessor of privately owned real property within this
10State, or any person authorized by such owner or lessor, or any
11law enforcement agency in the case of publicly owned real
12property may cause any motor vehicle abandoned or left
13unattended upon such property without permission to be removed
14by a towing service without liability for the costs of removal,
15transportation or storage or damage caused by such removal,
16transportation or storage. The towing or removal of any vehicle
17from private property without the consent of the registered
18owner or other legally authorized person in control of the
19vehicle is subject to compliance with the following conditions
20and restrictions:
21        1. Any towed or removed vehicle must be stored at the
22    site of the towing service's place of business. The site
23    must be open during business hours, and for the purpose of
24    redemption of vehicles, during the time that the person or
25    firm towing such vehicle is open for towing purposes.
26        2. The towing service shall within 30 minutes of

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1    intends to do such removal, and such notice shall be filed
2    at least 7 days before commencing such towing.
3        8. No removal of a vehicle from private property shall
4    be done except upon express written instructions of the
5    owners or persons in charge of the private property upon
6    which the vehicle is said to be trespassing.
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 reasonable
12    care.
13        10. When a vehicle has been towed or removed pursuant
14    to this Section, it must be released to its owner or
15    custodian within one half hour after requested, if such
16    request is made during business hours. Any vehicle owner or
17    custodian or agent shall have the right to inspect the
18    vehicle before accepting its return, and no release or
19    waiver of any kind which would release the towing service
20    from liability for damages incurred during the towing and
21    storage may be required from any vehicle owner or other
22    legally authorized person as a condition of release of the
23    vehicle. A detailed, signed receipt showing the legal name
24    of the towing service must be given to the person paying
25    towing or storage charges at the time of payment, whether
26    requested or not.

 

 

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1    This Section shall not apply to law enforcement,
2firefighting, rescue, ambulance, or other emergency vehicles
3which are marked as such or to property owned by any
4governmental entity.
5    When an authorized person improperly causes a motor vehicle
6to be removed, such person shall be liable to the owner or
7lessee of the vehicle for the cost or removal, transportation
8and storage, any damages resulting from the removal,
9transportation and storage, attorney's fee and court costs.
10    Any towing or storage charges accrued shall be payable by
11the use of any major credit card, in addition to being payable
12in cash.
13        11. Towing companies shall also provide insurance
14    coverage for areas where vehicles towed under the
15    provisions of this Chapter will be impounded or otherwise
16    stored, and shall adequately cover loss by fire, theft or
17    other risks.
18    Any person who fails to comply with the conditions and
19restrictions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class C
20misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than
21$500.
22    (g)(1) When a vehicle is determined to be a hazardous
23dilapidated motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11-40-3.1 of the
24Illinois Municipal Code, its removal and impoundment by a
25towing service may be authorized by a law enforcement agency
26with appropriate jurisdiction.

 

 

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1    (2) When a vehicle removal from either public or private
2property is authorized by a law enforcement agency, the owner
3of the vehicle shall be responsible for all towing and storage
4charges.
5    (3) Vehicles removed from public or private property and
6stored by a commercial vehicle relocator or any other towing
7service authorized by a law enforcement agency in compliance
8with this Section and Sections 4-201 and 4-202 of this Code, or
9at the request of the vehicle owner or operator, shall be
10subject to a possessor lien for services pursuant to the Labor
11and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. The provisions of Section
121 of that Act relating to notice and implied consent shall be
13deemed satisfied by compliance with Section 18a-302 and
14subsection (6) of Section 18a-300. In no event shall such lien
15be greater than the rate or rates established in accordance
16with subsection (6) of Section 18a-200 of this Code. In no
17event shall such lien be increased or altered to reflect any
18charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
19authorized by this Act. Every such lien shall be payable by use
20of any major credit card, in addition to being payable in cash.
21    (4) Any personal property belonging to the vehicle owner in
22a vehicle subject to a lien under this subsection (g) shall
23likewise be subject to that lien, excepting only: child
24restraint systems as defined in Section 4 of the Child
25Passenger Protection Act and other child booster seats;
26eyeglasses; food; medicine; perishable property; any

 

 

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

 

 

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1vehicle owner has an insurance policy covering towing and
2storage fees. The regulation of liens on personal property and
3exceptions to those liens in the case of vehicles towed as a
4result of being involved in an accident are exclusive powers
5and functions of the State. A home rule unit may not regulate
6liens on personal property and exceptions to those liens in the
7case of vehicles towed as a result of being involved in an
8accident. This paragraph (5) is a denial and limitation of home
9rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of
10Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.
11    (6) No lien under this subsection (g) shall: exceed $2,000
12in its total amount; or be increased or altered to reflect any
13charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
14authorized by this Act.
15    (h) Whenever a peace officer issues a citation to a driver
16for a violation of subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this
17Code, the arresting officer may have the vehicle which the
18person was operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a
19period of 5 days after the time of arrest. An impounding agency
20shall release a motor vehicle impounded under this subsection
21(h) to the registered owner of the vehicle under any of the
22following circumstances:
23        (1) If the vehicle is a stolen vehicle; or
24        (2) If the person ticketed for a violation of
25    subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this Code was not
26    authorized by the registered owner of the vehicle to

 

 

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1    operate the vehicle at the time of the violation; or
2        (3) If the registered owner of the vehicle was neither
3    the driver nor a passenger in the vehicle at the time of
4    the violation or was unaware that the driver was using the
5    vehicle to engage in street racing; or
6        (4) If the legal owner or registered owner of the
7    vehicle is a rental car agency; or
8        (5) If, prior to the expiration of the impoundment
9    period specified above, the citation is dismissed or the
10    defendant is found not guilty of the offense.
11(Source: P.A. 95-310, eff. 1-1-08; 95-562, eff. 7-1-08; 95-621,
12eff. 6-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-1274, eff. 7-26-10.)".