98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB4383

 

Introduced , by Rep. John D'Amico

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/4-203  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-203
625 ILCS 5/11-1302  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1302
625 ILCS 5/11-1431

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any tow initiated by a law enforcement agency or officer shall be communicated by the law enforcement agency directly to the tow company by phone or computer. Provides that law enforcement officers shall allow the owner of a disabled vehicle to specify the tow company of the owner's choice if the vehicle requires towing but is not, in the opinion of the officer, obstructing traffic.


LRB098 17503 MLW 52612 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4383LRB098 17503 MLW 52612 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 changing
5Sections 4-203, 11-1302, and 11-1431 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 adjacent
3to the highway by a towing service may be authorized by a law
4enforcement agency having jurisdiction. If the owner of a
5disabled vehicle is present at the scene of the disabled
6vehicle and, in the officer's opinion, the disabled vehicle is
7not obstructing traffic, the officer shall allow the owner of
8the vehicle to specify which towing service the owner would
9like to relocate the disabled vehicle. If the owner chooses not
10to specify a towing service, the officer may select a towing
11service for the vehicle. Any tow initiated by a law enforcement
12agency or officer shall be communicated by the law enforcement
13agency directly to the tow company by phone or computer.
14    (e) Whenever a peace officer reasonably believes that a
15person under arrest for a violation of Section 11-501 of this
16Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance is likely,
17upon release, to commit a subsequent violation of Section
1811-501, or a similar provision of a local ordinance, the
19arresting officer shall have the vehicle which the person was
20operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a period of
21not more than 12 hours after the time of arrest. However, such
22vehicle may be released by the arresting law enforcement agency
23prior to the end of the impoundment period if:
24        (1) the vehicle was not owned by the person under
25    arrest, and the lawful owner requesting such release
26    possesses a valid operator's license, proof of ownership,

 

 

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1    and would not, as determined by the arresting law
2    enforcement agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate a
3    motor vehicle in a safe manner, or who would otherwise, by
4    operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this Code;
5    or
6        (2) the vehicle is owned by the person under arrest,
7    and the person under arrest gives permission to another
8    person to operate such vehicle, provided however, that the
9    other person possesses a valid operator's license and would
10    not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency,
11    indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a
12    safe manner or who would otherwise, by operating such motor
13    vehicle, be in violation of this Code.
14    (e-5) Whenever a registered owner of a vehicle is taken
15into custody for operating the vehicle in violation of Section
1611-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance
17or Section 6-303 of this Code, a law enforcement officer may
18have the vehicle immediately impounded for a period not less
19than:
20        (1) 24 hours for a second violation of Section 11-501
21    of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
22    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
23    offenses; or
24        (2) 48 hours for a third violation of Section 11-501 of
25    this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
26    Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1        than 2 inch high light-reflective letters on a
2        contrasting background, that unauthorized vehicles
3        will be towed away at the owner's expense.
4            c. The notice must also provide the name and
5        current telephone number of the towing service towing
6        or removing the vehicle.
7            d. The sign structure containing the required
8        notices must be permanently installed with the bottom
9        of the sign not less than 4 feet above ground level,
10        and must be continuously maintained on the property for
11        not less than 24 hours prior to the towing or removing
12        of any vehicle.
13        6. Any towing service that tows or removes vehicles and
14    proposes to require the owner, operator, or person in
15    control of the vehicle to pay the costs of towing and
16    storage prior to redemption of the vehicle must file and
17    keep on record with the local law enforcement agency a
18    complete copy of the current rates to be charged for such
19    services, and post at the storage site an identical rate
20    schedule and any written contracts with property owners,
21    lessors, or persons in control of property which authorize
22    them to remove vehicles as provided in this Section. The
23    towing and storage charges, however, shall not exceed the
24    maximum allowed by the Illinois Commerce Commission under
25    Section 18a-200.
26        7. No person shall engage in the removal of vehicles

 

 

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1    from private property as described in this Section without
2    filing a notice of intent in each community where he
3    intends to do such removal, and such notice shall be filed
4    at least 7 days before commencing such towing.
5        8. No removal of a vehicle from private property shall
6    be done except upon express written instructions of the
7    owners or persons in charge of the private property upon
8    which the vehicle is said to be trespassing.
9        9. Vehicle entry for the purpose of removal shall be
10    allowed with reasonable care on the part of the person or
11    firm towing the vehicle. Such person or firm shall be
12    liable for any damages occasioned to the vehicle if such
13    entry is not in accordance with the standards of reasonable
14    care.
15        10. When a vehicle has been towed or removed pursuant
16    to this Section, it must be released to its owner or
17    custodian within one half hour after requested, if such
18    request is made during business hours. Any vehicle owner or
19    custodian or agent shall have the right to inspect the
20    vehicle before accepting its return, and no release or
21    waiver of any kind which would release the towing service
22    from liability for damages incurred during the towing and
23    storage may be required from any vehicle owner or other
24    legally authorized person as a condition of release of the
25    vehicle. A detailed, signed receipt showing the legal name
26    of the towing service must be given to the person paying

 

 

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1    towing or storage charges at the time of payment, whether
2    requested or not.
3    This Section shall not apply to law enforcement,
4firefighting, rescue, ambulance, or other emergency vehicles
5which are marked as such or to property owned by any
6governmental entity.
7    When an authorized person improperly causes a motor vehicle
8to be removed, such person shall be liable to the owner or
9lessee of the vehicle for the cost or removal, transportation
10and storage, any damages resulting from the removal,
11transportation and storage, attorney's fee and court costs.
12    Any towing or storage charges accrued shall be payable by
13the use of any major credit card, in addition to being payable
14in cash.
15        11. Towing companies shall also provide insurance
16    coverage for areas where vehicles towed under the
17    provisions of this Chapter will be impounded or otherwise
18    stored, and shall adequately cover loss by fire, theft or
19    other risks.
20    Any person who fails to comply with the conditions and
21restrictions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class C
22misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than
23$500.
24    (g)(1) When a vehicle is determined to be a hazardous
25dilapidated motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11-40-3.1 of the
26Illinois Municipal Code or Section 5-12002.1 of the Counties

 

 

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1Code, its removal and impoundment by a towing service may be
2authorized by a law enforcement agency with appropriate
3jurisdiction.
4    (2) When a vehicle removal from either public or private
5property is authorized by a law enforcement agency, the owner
6of the vehicle shall be responsible for all towing and storage
7charges.
8    (3) Vehicles removed from public or private property and
9stored by a commercial vehicle relocator or any other towing
10service authorized by a law enforcement agency in compliance
11with this Section and Sections 4-201 and 4-202 of this Code, or
12at the request of the vehicle owner or operator, shall be
13subject to a possessor lien for services pursuant to the Labor
14and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. The provisions of Section
151 of that Act relating to notice and implied consent shall be
16deemed satisfied by compliance with Section 18a-302 and
17subsection (6) of Section 18a-300. In no event shall such lien
18be greater than the rate or rates established in accordance
19with subsection (6) of Section 18a-200 of this Code. In no
20event shall such lien be increased or altered to reflect any
21charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
22authorized by this Act. Every such lien shall be payable by use
23of any major credit card, in addition to being payable in cash.
24    (4) Any personal property belonging to the vehicle owner in
25a vehicle subject to a lien under this subsection (g) shall
26likewise be subject to that lien, excepting only: child

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1        (2) If the person ticketed for a violation of
2    subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this Code was not
3    authorized by the registered owner of the vehicle to
4    operate the vehicle at the time of the violation; or
5        (3) If the registered owner of the vehicle was neither
6    the driver nor a passenger in the vehicle at the time of
7    the violation or was unaware that the driver was using the
8    vehicle to engage in street racing; or
9        (4) If the legal owner or registered owner of the
10    vehicle is a rental car agency; or
11        (5) If, prior to the expiration of the impoundment
12    period specified above, the citation is dismissed or the
13    defendant is found not guilty of the offense.
14(Source: P.A. 96-1274, eff. 7-26-10; 96-1506, eff. 1-27-11;
1597-779, eff. 7-13-12.)
 
16    (625 ILCS 5/11-1302)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1302)
17    Sec. 11-1302. Officers authorized to remove vehicles.
18    (a) Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle in
19violation of any of the provisions of Section 11-1301 such
20officer is hereby authorized to move such vehicle, or require
21the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move the
22same, to a position off the roadway. If the owner of a disabled
23vehicle is present at the scene of the disabled vehicle and, in
24the officer's opinion, the disabled vehicle is not obstructing
25traffic, the officer shall allow the owner of the vehicle to

 

 

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1specify which towing service the owner would like to relocate
2the disabled vehicle. If the owner chooses not to specify a
3towing service, the officer may select a towing service for the
4vehicle. Any tow initiated by a law enforcement agency or
5officer shall be communicated by the law enforcement agency
6directly to the tow company by phone or computer.
7    (b) Any police officer is hereby authorized to remove or
8cause to be removed to a place of safety any unattended vehicle
9illegally left standing upon any highway, bridge, causeway, or
10in a tunnel, in such a position or under such circumstances as
11to obstruct the normal movement of traffic.
12    Whenever the Department finds an abandoned or disabled
13vehicle standing upon the paved or main-traveled part of a
14highway, which vehicle is or may be expected to interrupt the
15free flow of traffic on the highway or interfere with the
16maintenance of the highway, the Department is authorized to
17move the vehicle to a position off the paved or improved or
18main-traveled part of the highway.
19    (c) Any police officer is hereby authorized to remove or
20cause to be removed to the nearest garage or other place of
21safety any vehicle found upon a highway when:
22        1. report has been made that such vehicle has been
23    stolen or taken without the consent of its owner, or
24        2. the person or persons in charge of such vehicle are
25    unable to provide for its custody or removal, or
26        3. the person driving or in control of such vehicle is

 

 

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1    arrested for an alleged offense for which the officer is
2    required by law to take the person arrested before a proper
3    magistrate without unnecessary delay, or
4        4. the registration of the vehicle has been suspended,
5    cancelled, or revoked.
6(Source: P.A. 97-743, eff. 1-1-13; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)
 
7    (625 ILCS 5/11-1431)
8    Sec. 11-1431. Solicitations at accident or disablement
9scene prohibited. A tower, as defined by Section 1-205.2 of
10this Code, or an employee or agent of a tower may not: (i) stop
11at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or at or near a
12damaged or disabled vehicle for the purpose of soliciting the
13owner or operator of the damaged or disabled vehicle to enter
14into a towing service transaction; or (ii) stop at the scene of
15an accident or at or near a damaged or disabled vehicle unless
16called to the location by a law enforcement officer, the
17Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll
18Highway Authority, a local agency having jurisdiction over the
19highway, or the owner or operator of the damaged or disabled
20vehicle. Any tow initiated by a law enforcement agency or
21officer shall be communicated by the law enforcement agency
22directly to the tow company by phone or computer. This Section
23shall not apply to employees of the Department, the Illinois
24State Toll Highway Authority, or local agencies when engaged in
25their official duties. Nothing in this Section shall prevent a

 

 

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1tower from stopping at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or
2at or near a damaged or disabled vehicle if the owner or
3operator signals the tower for assistance from the location of
4the motor vehicle accident or damaged or disabled vehicle.
5(Source: P.A. 96-1376, eff. 7-29-10.)