SB2261eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2261 Engrossed LRB099 16684 AXK 41022 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the Statewide Relocation Towing Licensure Commission Act.

Section 5. The Statewide Relocation Towing Licensure Commission.

(a) There is hereby created the Statewide Relocation Towing Licensure Commission.

(b) Within 60 days after the effective date of this Act, the members of the Commission shall be appointed with the following members:

(1) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) the Mayor of the City of Chicago, or his or her designee;

(6) the Secretary of Transportation, or his or her designee;

(7) the Director of State Police, or his or her designee;

(8) two members of the public who represent the towing industry, appointed by the President of the Professional Towing and Recovery Operators of Illinois;

(9) two members of the public who represent the property casualty insurance industry, appointed by the Executive Director of the Illinois Insurance Association;

(10) the President of the Illinois Municipal League, or his or her designee;

(11) the President of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, or his or her designee;

(12) the Cook County State's Attorney, or his or her designee;

(13) the Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, or his or her designee; and

(14) the President of the Northwest Municipal Conference, or his or her designee.

(c) The members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for serving as members of the Commission.

(d) The Illinois Commerce Commission shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission.

Section 10. Meetings.

(a) Each member of the Commission shall have voting rights and all actions and recommendations shall be approved by a simple majority vote of the members.

(b) The Commission shall meet no less than 3 times before the end of the calendar year in which this Act of the 99th General Assembly becomes effective.

(c) At the initial meeting, the Commission shall elect one member as a Chairperson, through a simple majority vote, who shall thereafter call any subsequent meetings.

Section 15. Reporting.

(a) No later than July 1, 2017, the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and to the General Assembly, which shall include, but is not limited to:

(1) an evaluation of the current towing laws in this State;

(2) a recommendation for an appropriate towing program for this State;

(3) a review of all potential litigation costs for an owner of an impounded vehicle, a towing company, and a county or municipality; and

(3) any other matters the Commission deems necessary.

Section 20. Repealer. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2018.

Section 105. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 11-208.7, 11-1303, 11-1431, 18d-120, and 18d-125 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-208.7)

Sec. 11-208.7. Administrative fees and procedures for impounding vehicles for specified violations.

(a) Any county or municipality may, consistent with this Section, provide by ordinance procedures for the release of properly impounded vehicles and for the imposition of a reasonable administrative fee related to its administrative and processing costs associated with the investigation, arrest, and detention of an offender, or the removal, impoundment, storage, and release of the vehicle. The administrative fee imposed by the county or municipality may be in addition to any fees charged for the towing and storage of an impounded vehicle. The administrative fee shall be waived by the county or municipality upon verifiable proof that the vehicle was stolen at the time the vehicle was impounded.

(b) An Any ordinance establishing procedures for the release of properly impounded vehicles under this Section may impose fees only for the following violations:

(1) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense for which a motor vehicle may be seized and forfeited pursuant to Section 36-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012; or

(2) driving under the influence of alcohol, another drug or drugs, an intoxicating compound or compounds, or any combination thereof, in violation of Section 11-501 of this Code; or

(3) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the commission of, or in the attempt to commit, a felony or in violation of the Cannabis Control Act; or

(4) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense in violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act; or

(5) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense in violation of Section 24-1, 24-1.5, or 24-3.1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; or

(6) driving while a driver's license, permit, or privilege to operate a motor vehicle is suspended or revoked pursuant to Section 6-303 of this Code; except that vehicles shall not be subjected to seizure or impoundment if the suspension is for an unpaid citation (parking or moving) or due to failure to comply with emission testing; or

(7) operation or use of a motor vehicle while soliciting, possessing, or attempting to solicit or possess cannabis or a controlled substance, as defined by the Cannabis Control Act or the Illinois Controlled Substances Act; or

(8) operation or use of a motor vehicle with an expired driver's license, in violation of Section 6-101 of this Code, if the period of expiration is greater than one year; or

(9) operation or use of a motor vehicle without ever having been issued a driver's license or permit, in violation of Section 6-101 of this Code, or operating a motor vehicle without ever having been issued a driver's license or permit due to a person's age; or

(10) operation or use of a motor vehicle by a person against whom a warrant has been issued by a circuit clerk in Illinois for failing to answer charges that the driver violated Section 6-101, 6-303, or 11-501 of this Code; or

(11) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the commission of, or in the attempt to commit, an offense in violation of Article 16 or 16A of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012; or

(12) operation or use of a motor vehicle in the commission of, or in the attempt to commit, any other misdemeanor or felony offense in violation of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, when so provided by local ordinance; or

(13) operation or use of a motor vehicle in violation of Section 11-503 of this Code:

(A) while the vehicle is part of a funeral procession; or

(B) in a manner that interferes with a funeral procession; or .

(14) parking a vehicle in violation of Section 11-1301.3 or Section 11-1303 of this Code, or parking a vehicle on a designated snow route or tow zone established by a county or municipality.

(c) The following shall apply to any fees imposed for administrative and processing costs pursuant to subsection (b):

(1) All administrative fees and towing and storage charges shall be imposed on the registered owner of the motor vehicle or the agents of that owner.

(2) The fees shall be in addition to (i) any other penalties that may be assessed by a court of law for the underlying violations; and (ii) any towing or storage fees, or both, charged by the towing company.

(3) The fees shall be uniform for all similarly situated vehicles.

(4) The fees shall be collected by and paid to the county or municipality imposing the fees.

(5) The towing or storage fees, or both, shall be collected by and paid to the person, firm, or entity that tows and stores the impounded vehicle.

(d) Any ordinance establishing procedures for the release of properly impounded vehicles under this Section shall provide for an opportunity for a hearing, as provided in subdivision (b)(4) of Section 11-208.3 of this Code, and for the release of the vehicle to the owner of record, lessee, or a lienholder of record upon payment of all administrative fees and towing and storage fees.

(e) Any ordinance establishing procedures for the impoundment and release of vehicles under this Section shall include the following provisions concerning notice of impoundment:

(1) Whenever a police officer has cause to believe that a motor vehicle is subject to impoundment, the officer shall provide for the towing of the vehicle to a facility authorized by the county or municipality.

(2) At the time the vehicle is towed, the county or municipality shall notify or make a reasonable attempt to notify the owner, lessee, or person identifying himself or herself as the owner or lessee of the vehicle, or any person who is found to be in control of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offense, of the fact of the seizure, and of the vehicle owner's or lessee's right to an administrative hearing.

(3) The county or municipality shall also provide notice that the motor vehicle will remain impounded pending the completion of an administrative hearing, unless the owner or lessee of the vehicle or a lienholder posts with the county or municipality a bond equal to the administrative fee as provided by ordinance and pays for all towing and storage charges.

(f) Any ordinance establishing procedures for the impoundment and release of vehicles under this Section shall include a provision providing that the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle and any lienholder of record shall be provided with a notice of hearing. The notice shall:

(1) be served upon the owner, lessee, and any lienholder of record either by personal service or by first class mail to the interested party's address as registered with the Secretary of State;

(2) be served upon interested parties within 10 days after a vehicle is impounded by the municipality; and

(3) contain the date, time, and location of the administrative hearing. An initial hearing shall be scheduled and convened no later than 45 days after the date of the mailing of the notice of hearing.

(g) In addition to the requirements contained in subdivision (b)(4) of Section 11-208.3 of this Code relating to administrative hearings, any ordinance providing for the impoundment and release of vehicles under this Section shall include the following requirements concerning administrative hearings:

(1) administrative hearings shall be conducted by a hearing officer who is an attorney licensed to practice law in this State for a minimum of 3 years;

(2) at the conclusion of the administrative hearing, the hearing officer shall issue a written decision either sustaining or overruling the vehicle impoundment;

(3) if the basis for the vehicle impoundment is sustained by the administrative hearing officer, any administrative fee posted to secure the release of the vehicle shall be forfeited to the county or municipality;

(4) all final decisions of the administrative hearing officer shall be subject to review under the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, unless the county or municipality allows in the enabling ordinance for direct appeal to the circuit court having jurisdiction over the county or municipality; and

(5) unless the administrative hearing officer overturns the basis for the vehicle impoundment, no vehicle shall be released to the owner, lessee, or lienholder of record until all administrative fees and towing and storage charges are paid; and .

(6) if the administrative hearing officer finds no probable cause for vehicle impoundment, the county or municipality shall be liable to the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle for the cost of storage fees and reasonable attorney's fees; except for a home rule unit that, on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, owns and operates a towing facility within its boundaries for the storage of towed vehicles and owns and operates tow trucks or enters into a contract with a third party vendor to operate tow trucks, the administrative hearing officer shall not award attorney's fees if the reason for vehicle impoundment is a parking violation under Section 11-1301.3 or Section 11-1303 of this Code or parking a vehicle on a designated snow route or tow zone in violation of a county or municipal ordinance.

(h) Vehicles not retrieved from the towing facility or storage facility within 35 days after the administrative hearing officer issues a written decision shall be deemed abandoned and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Article II of Chapter 4 of this Code.

(i) Unless stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction, any fine, penalty, or administrative fee imposed under this Section which remains unpaid in whole or in part after the expiration of the deadline for seeking judicial review under the Administrative Review Law may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(j) Except as provided in subsection (k) of this Section, a home rule unit may not regulate the administrative fees and procedures for impounding vehicles in a manner inconsistent with this Section. This subsection (j) is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(k) The fee limits and provisions in paragraph (6) of subsection (b) and paragraph (6) of subsection (g) of this Section shall not apply to a home rule unit that tows a vehicle on a public way if a circumstance requires the towing of the vehicle or if the vehicle is towed due to a violation of a statute or local ordinance, and the home rule unit:

(1) owns and operates a towing facility within its boundaries for the storage of towed vehicles; and

(2) owns and operates tow trucks or enters into a contract with a third party vendor to operate tow trucks.

(Source: P.A. 97-109, eff. 1-1-12; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13; 98-518, eff. 8-22-13; 98-734, eff. 1-1-15; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-1303) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1303)

Sec. 11-1303. Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places.

(a) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall:

1. Stop, stand or park a vehicle:

a. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;

b. On a sidewalk;

c. Within an intersection;

d. On a crosswalk;

e. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by signs or markings;

f. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;

g. Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel, including, but not limited to, a viaduct or an underpass;

h. On any railroad tracks. A violation of any part of this subparagraph h. shall result in a mandatory fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service.

i. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping;

j. On any controlled-access highway;

k. In the area between roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers;

l. In a public parking area if the vehicle does not display a current annual registration sticker or current temporary permit pending registration.

2. Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge passengers:

a. In front of a public or private driveway;

b. Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;

c. Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;

d. Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway;

e. Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of such entrance (when properly sign-posted);

f. At any place where official signs prohibit standing.

3. Park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers:

a. Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;

b. At any place where official signs prohibit parking; .

c. On a parkway; or

d. On a bicycle path or lane.

(b) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as is unlawful.

(Source: P.A. 89-245, eff. 1-1-96; 89-658, eff. 1-1-97.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-1431)

Sec. 11-1431. Solicitations at accident or disablement scene prohibited.

(a) A tower, as defined by Section 1-205.2 of this Code, or an employee or agent of a tower may not: (i) stop at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or at or near a damaged or disabled vehicle for the purpose of soliciting the owner or operator of the damaged or disabled vehicle to enter into a towing service transaction; or (ii) stop at the scene of an accident or at or near a damaged or disabled vehicle unless called to the location by a law enforcement officer, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, a local agency having jurisdiction over the highway, or the owner or operator of the damaged or disabled vehicle, or the owner or operator's authorized agent, including his or her insurer or motor club of which the owner or operator is a member. This Section shall not apply to employees of the Department, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, or local agencies when engaged in their official duties. Nothing in this Section shall prevent a tower from stopping at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or at or near a damaged or disabled vehicle if the owner or operator signals the tower for assistance from the location of the motor vehicle accident or damaged or disabled vehicle.

(b) A person or company who violates this Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony business offense and shall be required to pay a fine of more than $500, but not more than $1,000. A person convicted of violating this Section shall also have his or her driver's license, permit, or privileges suspended for 3 months. After the expiration of the 3 month suspension, the person's driver's license, permit, or privileges shall not be reinstated until he or she has paid a reinstatement fee of $100. If a person violates this Section while his or her driver's license, permit, or privileges are suspended under this subsection (b), his or her driver's license, permit, or privileges shall be suspended for an additional 6 months, and shall not be reinstated after the expiration of the 6 month suspension until he or she pays a reinstatement fee of $100.

(Source: P.A. 99-438, eff. 1-1-16.)

(625 ILCS 5/18d-120)

Sec. 18d-120. Disclosure to vehicle owner or operator before towing of damaged or disabled vehicle commences.

(a) A commercial vehicle safety relocator shall not commence the towing of a damaged or disabled vehicle without specific authorization from the vehicle owner or operator after the disclosures set forth in this Section.

(b) Every commercial vehicle safety relocator shall, before towing a damaged or disabled vehicle, give to each vehicle owner or operator a written disclosure providing:

(1) The formal business name of the commercial vehicle safety relocator, as registered with the Illinois Secretary of State, and its business address and telephone number.

(2) The address of the location to which the vehicle shall be relocated.

(3) The cost of all relocation, storage, and any other fees, without limitation, that the commercial vehicle safety relocator will charge for its services.

(4) An itemized description of the vehicle owner or operator's rights under this Code, as follows:

"As a customer, you also have the following rights under Illinois law:

(1) This written disclosure must be provided to you before your vehicle is towed, providing the business name, business address, address where the vehicle will be towed, and a reliable telephone number;

(2) Before towing, you must be advised of the price of all services;

(3) Upon your demand, a final invoice itemizing all charges, as well as any damage to the vehicle upon its receipt and return to you, must be provided;

(4) Upon your demand, your vehicle must be returned during business hours, upon your prompt payment of all reasonable fees;

(5) You have the right to pay all charges in cash or by major credit card;

(6) Upon your demand, you must be provided with proof of the existence of mandatory insurance insuring against all risks associated with the transportation and storage of your vehicle."

(c) The commercial vehicle safety relocator shall provide a copy of the completed disclosure required by this Section to the vehicle owner or operator, before towing the damaged or disabled vehicle, and shall maintain an identical copy of the completed disclosure in its records for a minimum of 5 years after the transaction concludes.

(d) If the vehicle owner or operator is incapacitated, incompetent, or otherwise unable to knowingly accept receipt of the disclosure described in this Section, the commercial vehicle safety relocator shall provide a completed copy of the disclosure to local law enforcement and, if known, the vehicle owner or operator's automobile insurance company.

(e) If the commercial vehicle safety relocator fails to comply with the requirements of this Section, the commercial vehicle safety relocator shall be prohibited from seeking any compensation whatsoever from the vehicle owner or operator, including but not limited to any towing, storage, or other incidental fees. Furthermore, if the commercial vehicle safety relocator or operator fails to comply with the requirements of this Section, any contracts entered into by the commercial vehicle safety relocator and the vehicle owner or operator shall be deemed null, void, and unenforceable. A vehicle owner, or his or her authorized agent or automobile insurer, may bring a claim against a commercial vehicle safety relocator who willfully and materially violates this Section. A court may award the prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses relating to that action.

(Source: P.A. 95-562, eff. 7-1-08.)

(625 ILCS 5/18d-125)

Sec. 18d-125. Disclosures to vehicle owners or operators; invoices.

(a) Upon demand of the vehicle owner or operator, the commercial vehicle safety relocator shall provide an itemized final invoice that fairly and accurately documents the charges owed by the vehicle owner or operator for relocation of damaged or disabled vehicles. The final estimate or invoice shall accurately record in writing all of the items set forth in this Section.

(b) The final invoice shall show the formal business name of the commercial vehicle safety relocator, as registered with the Illinois Secretary of State, its business address and telephone number, the date of the invoice, the odometer reading at the time the final invoice was prepared, the name of the vehicle owner or operator, and the description of the motor vehicle, including the motor vehicle identification number. In addition, the invoice shall describe any modifications made to the vehicle by the commercial vehicle safety relocator, any observable damage to the vehicle upon its initial receipt by the commercial vehicle safety relocator, and any observable damage to the vehicle at the time of its release to the vehicle owner or operator. The invoice shall itemize any additional charges and include those charges in the total presented to the vehicle owner or operator.

(c) A legible copy of the invoice shall be given to the vehicle owner or operator, and a legible copy shall be retained by the commercial vehicle safety relocator for a period of 5 years from the date of release of the vehicle. The copy may be retained in electronic format. Records may be stored at a separate location.

(d) Disclosure forms required in accordance with this Section 18d-120 must be approved by the Commission.

(Source: P.A. 95-562, eff. 7-1-08.)

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.