State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_SB0542

      625 ILCS 5/6-303          from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-303
      625 ILCS 5/6-303.1 new
      720 ILCS 5/36-1           from Ch. 38, par. 36-1
          Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and the Criminal Code of
      1961.  Provides that a person convicted for driving while his
      or her license  was  suspended  under  provisions  concerning
      suspension of a driver's license of a person under the age of
      21  years for driving while under the influence shall serve a
      minimum term of imprisonment of 7 consecutive days or 30 days
      of community service. Provides for the seizure or impoundment
      of a vehicle  used  in  a  violation  of  certain  provisions
      concerning  driving while a license or permit is suspended or
      revoked and provides for requirements concerning the  seizure
      and impoundment.  Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to provide
      that  a  vehicle  used  in  an  offense prohibited by certain
      provisions concerning involuntary manslaughter  and  reckless
      homicide,  driving  while a license or permit is suspended or
      revoked, and driving while under the influence of alcohol  or
      drugs may be seized.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9002622NTsb
                                               LRB9002622NTsb
 1        AN ACT concerning vehicles, amending named Acts.
 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:
 4        Section 5.  The  Illinois  Vehicle  Code  is  amended  by
 5    changing Section 6-303 and adding Section 6-303.1 as follows:
 6        (625 ILCS 5/6-303) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-303)
 7        Sec.  6-303.  Driving  while  driver's license, permit or
 8    privilege to operate a motor vehicle is suspended or revoked.
 9        (a)  Any person who  drives  or  is  in  actual  physical
10    control  of a motor vehicle on any highway of this State at a
11    time when such person's driver's license, permit or privilege
12    to do so or the privilege to obtain  a  driver's  license  or
13    permit  is  revoked  or suspended as provided by this Code or
14    the law of another  state,  except  as  may  be  specifically
15    allowed  by  a  judicial  driving  permit,  family  financial
16    responsibility driving permit, probationary license to drive,
17    or  a  restricted driving permit issued pursuant to this Code
18    or under the law of another state, shall be guilty of a Class
19    A misdemeanor.
20        (b)  The Secretary of State upon receiving  a  report  of
21    the  conviction  of  any  violation  indicating  a person was
22    operating a motor vehicle during the time when said  person's
23    driver's  license,  permit  or privilege was suspended by the
24    Secretary, by the appropriate authority of another state,  or
25    pursuant  to  Section 11-501.1; except as may be specifically
26    allowed by a probationary license to drive, judicial  driving
27    permit  or  restricted driving permit issued pursuant to this
28    Code or the law of another state; shall extend the suspension
29    for the  same  period  of  time  as  the  originally  imposed
30    suspension;  however,  if  the  period of suspension has then
31    expired, the Secretary shall be authorized  to  suspend  said
                            -2-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1    person's  driving  privileges  for the same period of time as
 2    the originally imposed suspension; and if the conviction  was
 3    upon  a  charge  which  indicated that a vehicle was operated
 4    during the time when the person's driver's license, permit or
 5    privilege  was  revoked;  except  as  may  be  allowed  by  a
 6    restricted driving permit issued pursuant to this Code or the
 7    law of  another  state;  the  Secretary  shall  not  issue  a
 8    driver's  license  for  an additional period of one year from
 9    the date  of  such  conviction  indicating  such  person  was
10    operating a vehicle during such period of revocation.
11        (c)  Any person convicted of violating this Section shall
12    serve a minimum term of imprisonment of 7 consecutive days or
13    30  days  of  community  service  when  the  person's driving
14    privilege was revoked or suspended as a result of:
15             (1)  a violation of Section 11-501 of this Code or a
16        similar provision of a local ordinance  relating  to  the
17        offense  of  operating  or being in physical control of a
18        vehicle while under the influence of alcohol,  any  other
19        drug or any combination thereof; or
20             (2)  a  violation of paragraph (b) of Section 11-401
21        of this Code or a similar provision of a local  ordinance
22        relating  to  the offense of leaving the scene of a motor
23        vehicle accident involving personal injury or death; or
24             (3)  a violation of Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code
25        of 1961, as amended, relating to the offense of  reckless
26        homicide; or
27             (4)  a  statutory  summary  suspension under Section
28        11-501.1 or a suspension under Section 11-501.8  of  this
29        Code.
30        Such  sentence of imprisonment or community service shall
31    not  be  subject  to  suspension  in  order  to  reduce  such
32    sentence.
33        (d)  Any person  convicted  of  a  second  or  subsequent
34    violation of this Section shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony
                            -3-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1    if  the original revocation or suspension was for a violation
 2    of Section 11-401 or  11-501  of  this  Code,  or  a  similar
 3    out-of-state  offense,  or  a  similar  provision  of a local
 4    ordinance, a violation of Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code of
 5    1961, relating to the offense  of  reckless  homicide,  or  a
 6    similar   out-of-state   offense,   or  a  statutory  summary
 7    suspension under Section 11-501.1 of this Code.
 8        (e)  Any person in violation of this Section who is  also
 9    in  violation  of  Section  7-601  of  this  Code relating to
10    mandatory  insurance  requirements,  in  addition  to   other
11    penalties  imposed  under this Section, shall have his or her
12    motor vehicle immediately  impounded  by  the  arresting  law
13    enforcement  officer.    The motor vehicle may be released to
14    any licensed driver upon a showing of proof of insurance  for
15    the  vehicle  that  was  impounded  and the notarized written
16    consent for the release by the vehicle owner.
17    (Source:  P.A.  88-383;  88-680,  eff.  1-1-95;  89-8,   eff.
18    3-21-95;  89-92,  eff.  7-1-96;  89-159, eff. 1-1-96; 89-626,
19    eff. 8-9-96.)
20        (625 ILCS 5/6-303.1 new)
21        Sec. 6-303.1.  Seizure and impoundment of vehicle.
22        (a)  As used in this Section:
23             "Governmental entity" means a municipal,  county  or
24        state   governmental   entity  or  other  unit  of  local
25        government whose law enforcement agency caused a  vehicle
26        to be impounded under this Section.
27             "Hearing  officer"  means  either  a  judge  of  the
28        circuit  court  or a hearing officer of the Office of the
29        Secretary of State, located in the jurisdiction where  an
30        impoundment took place under this Section.
31             "Owner  of  record"  or  "record owner" of a vehicle
32        means the record title holder at the time  of  an  arrest
33        for a violation of subsection (c) of this Section.
                            -4-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1        (b)   Upon  arresting a person for a violation of Section
 2    6-303, if the arresting law enforcement officer    determines
 3    that  the person's driving privilege was revoked or suspended
 4    or restricted under the authority  of  a  restricted  driving
 5    permit  or  judicial  driving  permit  for any of the reasons
 6    listed in subdivisions (1) through (4) of subsection  (c)  of
 7    Section  6-303,  that  officer  may provide for the immediate
 8    towing of the motor vehicle that the person  is  driving,  or
 9    otherwise in physical control of, at the time of arrest, to a
10    facility  controlled by the governmental entity or its agent.
11    Except as otherwise provided in this Section,  the  owner  of
12    record  of  the  vehicle  shall be liable to the governmental
13    entity for a penalty of $500 in  addition  to  fees  for  the
14    towing and storage of the vehicle.
15        (c)  Before or at the time the vehicle subject to seizure
16    and   impoundment  under  this  Section  is  towed,  the  law
17    enforcement  officer  shall  notify  any  person  identifying
18    himself or herself as the owner of the vehicle or the  person
19    who  is  found to be driving or otherwise in physical control
20    of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation,  of  the
21    fact  of  the  seizure  and  of  the vehicle owner's right to
22    request a preliminary hearing  to  be  conducted  under  this
23    Section.
24        (d)   A  hearing  officer  shall  conduct  a  preliminary
25    hearing  within 24 hours after the seizure, excluding Sundays
26    and legal holidays, if the owner of a  vehicle  seized  under
27    this  Section  has  made  a written request for a preliminary
28    hearing  within  12  hours  after  the  seizure,  unless  the
29    impounding law enforcement agency  determines  that  it  must
30    retain  custody  of  the  vehicle  under  applicable state or
31    federal forfeiture law.   All  interested  persons  shall  be
32    given a reasonable opportunity to be heard at the preliminary
33    hearing.  The formal rules of evidence shall not apply at the
34    hearing,  and  hearsay evidence is admissible.  If, after the
                            -5-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1    hearing,  the  hearing  officer  determines  that  there   is
 2    probable  cause to believe that the vehicle was used when the
 3    person's  driving  privilege  was  revoked  or  suspended  or
 4    restricted under the authority of a restricted driving permit
 5    or judicial driving permit for any of the reasons  listed  in
 6    subdivisions  (1)  through  (4)  of subsection (c) of Section
 7    6-303 and that none of the exceptions to liability set  forth
 8    in  this  Section  is  applicable,  the hearing officer shall
 9    order the continued impoundment of the vehicle as provided in
10    this Section unless the owner of the vehicle posts  with  the
11    governmental  entity  a  cash bond in the amount of $500 plus
12    the accumulated costs of towing and storing.  If the  hearing
13    officer determines that there is no probable cause or that an
14    exception   to   liability  set  forth  in  this  Section  is
15    applicable, the  hearing  officer  shall  order  the  vehicle
16    returned  to the owner, or to any licensed driver showing the
17    notarized written consent  for  the  release  by  the  owner,
18    without penalty or other fees.
19        (e)   Within  10  days  after  a  vehicle  is  seized and
20    impounded under this Section, the governmental  entity  shall
21    notify by certified mail, return receipt requested, the owner
22    of  record  of the date, time, and location of a hearing that
23    will be conducted pursuant  to  this  Section.   The  hearing
24    shall be scheduled and held, unless continued by order of the
25    hearing  officer, no later than 30 days after the vehicle was
26    seized.  All interested persons shall be given  a  reasonable
27    opportunity  to  be  heard  at  the  hearing.   If, after the
28    hearing, the hearing officer determines by a preponderance of
29    evidence that the vehicle was used when the person's  driving
30    privilege  was  revoked  or suspended or restricted under the
31    authority of a restricted driving permit or judicial  driving
32    permit  for  any  of  the  reasons listed in subdivisions (1)
33    through (4) of subsection (c) of Section 6-303 and that  none
34    of  the  exceptions to liability set forth in this Section is
                            -6-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1    applicable, the hearing officer shall enter an order  finding
 2    the  owner  of  record  of  the vehicle civilly liable to the
 3    governmental entity for a penalty in the amount of $500, plus
 4    towing and storage costs.  If the owner of  record  fails  to
 5    appear  at  the  hearing,  the  hearing officer shall enter a
 6    default order in favor of the governmental  entity  requiring
 7    the payment to the governmental entity in the amount of $500,
 8    plus  towing and storage costs.  If the hearing officer finds
 9    that no such violation  occurred  or  that  an  exception  to
10    liability  set  forth  in  this  Section  is  applicable, the
11    hearing officer shall order (i) the immediate return  of  any
12    cash  bond  posted,  or  (ii)  where  the  vehicle  is in the
13    governmental entity's possession, the return of  the  vehicle
14    to the owner, or to any licensed driver showing the notarized
15    written  consent for the release by the owner, except that no
16    vehicle shall be returned to the owner of record  or  his  or
17    her  agent  unless and until the governmental entity receives
18    notice from  the  appropriate  state  or,  where  applicable,
19    federal officials that (i) forfeiture proceedings will not be
20    instituted  or (ii) forfeiture proceedings have concluded and
21    there is a settlement or a court  order  providing  that  the
22    vehicle  shall  be  returned to the owner of record or his or
23    her agent.
24        (f)   The  following  shall  constitute   exceptions   to
25    liability for purposes of this Section:
26             (1)  the  vehicle  used  in the violation was stolen
27        from the owner at the time of arrest and  the  theft  was
28        reported  to the appropriate police authorities within 24
29        hours after the theft was discovered or reasonably should
30        have been discovered; or
31             (2)  the vehicle used in the violation  was  subject
32        to bailment and was being driven at the time of arrest by
33        an  employee  of  a  business  establishment, including a
34        parking service or repair garage, and  the  employee  was
                            -7-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1        not the vehicle's owner.
 2        (g)   If  a  penalty  is  imposed under this Section, the
 3    penalty  shall  constitute  a  debt  due  and  owing  to  the
 4    governmental entity.  The record owner's  obligation  to  pay
 5    the  debt  to the governmental entity shall be independent of
 6    the governmental entity's return of  any  impounded  vehicle.
 7    If  a  cash bond has been posted under this Section, the bond
 8    shall be applied to the  penalty.   If  a  vehicle  has  been
 9    impounded  when  such  a penalty is imposed, the governmental
10    entity may seek to obtain a judgment on the debt and  enforce
11    the  judgment against the vehicle as provided by law.  Except
12    as otherwise  provided  in  this  Section,  a  vehicle  shall
13    continue to be impounded until:
14             (1)  the  penalty,  plus  any  applicable towing and
15        storage fees, is paid  to  the  governmental  entity,  in
16        which case the impounded vehicle shall be returned to the
17        record  owner, or other person who is legally entitled to
18        possess the vehicle; or
19             (2)  the vehicle is sold or otherwise disposed of to
20        satisfy a judgment or enforce a lien as provided by law.
21             Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
22        no vehicle shall be returned to the owner  of  record  or
23        his or her agent unless and until the governmental entity
24        has  received notice from the appropriate state or, where
25        applicable,  federal  officials   that   (i)   forfeiture
26        proceedings  will  not  be  instituted or (ii) forfeiture
27        proceedings have concluded and there is a settlement or a
28        court order providing that the vehicle shall be  returned
29        to the owner of record or his or her agent.
30        (h)   Any  motor  vehicle that is not reclaimed within 30
31    days after the expiration of the time during which the  owner
32    of  record  may  seek  judicial  review  of  the governmental
33    entity's action under this Section, or the time  at  which  a
34    final  judgment  is  rendered  in  favor  of the governmental
                            -8-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1    entity, or the time a final judgment is rendered  against  an
 2    owner of record who is in default by failing to appear at the
 3    hearing,  may  be  disposed  of  as  an  unclaimed vehicle as
 4    provided by law; provided, however,  that  where  proceedings
 5    have  been instituted under state or federal forfeiture laws,
 6    the  subject  vehicle  may  not  be  disposed   of   by   the
 7    governmental   entity   except   as   consistent  with  those
 8    proceedings.  When the vehicle is sold  by  the  governmental
 9    entity  and  the  proceeds from the sale are greater than the
10    amount due the governmental entity in penalty and towing  and
11    storage  costs, then the owner of record may obtain those net
12    proceeds by filing a claim with the governmental entity.
13        (i)  Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, no
14    owner, lienholder, or other person shall be legally  entitled
15    to  take possession of a vehicle impounded under this Section
16    until the  civil  penalty  and  fees  applicable  under  this
17    Section  have  been  paid.  However, whenever a person with a
18    lien of record against a vehicle impounded under this Section
19    has commenced  foreclosure  proceedings,  possession  of  the
20    vehicle  shall be given to that person if he or she agrees in
21    writing to refund to the governmental entity  the  amount  of
22    the  net  proceeds  of any foreclosure sale, less any amounts
23    required to pay all lienholders of record, up  to  $500  plus
24    the applicable fees.
25        (j)   Fees for towing and storage of a vehicle under this
26    Section shall be the same as those customarily charged by the
27    governmental entity or its agent.
28        (k)   A  governmental  entity  acting  pursuant  to  this
29    Section may by statute, ordinance, or local rule designate as
30    hearing officer either the circuit court, or  the  Office  of
31    the Secretary of State, located in the jurisdiction where the
32    vehicle was impounded.
33        (l)   A  governmental entity shall only release a vehicle
34    under this Section to a person presenting  a  valid  driver's
                            -9-                LRB9002622NTsb
 1    license, permit, or privilege to operate a motor vehicle.
 2        Section  10.  The  Criminal  Code  of  1961 is amended by
 3    changing Section 36-1 as follows:
 4        (720 ILCS 5/36-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 36-1)
 5        Sec. 36-1.  Seizure.  Any  vessel,  vehicle  or  aircraft
 6    used  with  the  knowledge  and  consent  of the owner in the
 7    commission of, or in the attempt  to  commit  as  defined  in
 8    Section  8-4  of  this  Code,  an  offense  prohibited by (a)
 9    Section 9-1, 9-3,  10-2,  11-6,  11-15.1,  11-19.1,  11-19.2,
10    11-20.1,  12-7.3,  12-7.4,  12-13,  12-14,  18-2, 19-1, 19-2,
11    19-3, 20-1, 20-2, 24-1.2 or 28-1 of this Code,  or  paragraph
12    (a) of Section 12-15 or paragraphs (a), (c) or (d) of Section
13    12-16  of  this Code; (b) Section 21, 22, 23, 24 or 26 of the
14    Cigarette Tax Act if the vessel, vehicle or aircraft contains
15    more than 10 cartons of such cigarettes; (c) Section  28,  29
16    or  30 of the Cigarette Use Tax Act if the vessel, vehicle or
17    aircraft contains more than 10 cartons of such cigarettes; or
18    (d) Section 44  of  the  Environmental  Protection  Act;  (e)
19    paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of subsection (c) of Section 6-303
20    of  the Illinois Vehicle Code when the offense is a second or
21    subsequent violation; or (f) subdivision (A), (C), or (D)  of
22    paragraph  (1)  of  subsection  (d)  of Section 11-501 of the
23    Illinois Vehicle Code may be seized and  delivered  forthwith
24    to the sheriff of the county of seizure.
25        Within 15 days after such delivery the sheriff shall give
26    notice  of  seizure to each person according to the following
27    method: Upon each such person whose right, title or  interest
28    is  of  record  in  the office of the Secretary of State, the
29    Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the Federal
30    Aviation Agency, or any other Department of  this  State,  or
31    any  other state of the United States if such vessel, vehicle
32    or aircraft is required to be so registered, as the case  may
                            -10-               LRB9002622NTsb
 1    be,  by mailing a copy of the notice by certified mail to the
 2    address as given upon the records of the Secretary of  State,
 3    the Department of Aeronautics, Department of Public Works and
 4    Buildings or any other Department of this State or the United
 5    States  if such vessel, vehicle or aircraft is required to be
 6    so registered. Within that 15 day period  the  sheriff  shall
 7    also  notify  the  State's  Attorney of the county of seizure
 8    about the seizure.
 9        In addition, any mobile or portable equipment used in the
10    commission of an act which is in violation of Section  7g  of
11    the  Metropolitan  Water  Reclamation  District  Act shall be
12    subject to seizure and forfeiture under the  same  procedures
13    provided  in  this  Article for the seizure and forfeiture of
14    vessels, vehicles and aircraft, and any such equipment  shall
15    be  deemed a vessel, vehicle or aircraft for purposes of this
16    Article.
17        When a person discharges a firearm at another  individual
18    from a vehicle with the knowledge and consent of the owner of
19    the  vehicle  and  with  the  intent  to cause death or great
20    bodily harm to that individual and as a result  causes  death
21    or great bodily harm to that individual, the vehicle shall be
22    subject  to  seizure and forfeiture under the same procedures
23    provided in this Article for the seizure  and  forfeiture  of
24    vehicles  used in violations of clauses (a), (b), (c), or (d)
25    of this Section.
26    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94;  88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;
27    88-679, eff. 7-1-95.)
28        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
29    becoming law.

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