Bill Text: IL SB2654 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Engrossed


Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that personal medicine and health care devices, including hearing instruments; social security cards; passbooks; and higher education textbooks and study materials shall not be subject to a lien. Provides that a person who has indicated in a timely filed report to the appropriate law enforcement agency that a vehicle has been stolen or hijacked: (1) is not liable for any governmentally imposed fees, fines, or penalties; and (2) if the vehicle towed is registered in Illinois and the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle is provided or made available to the towing service at the time of the tow, then the towing service must provide written notice of the tow to the registered owner within 2 business days after the vehicle is towed by certified mail, return receipt requested. Provides that no storage charges shall accrue if the vehicle is reclaimed by paying recovery and towing charges at the posted rates of the towing service within 7 days after such notice is mailed. If the vehicle that was towed is registered in a state other than Illinois, provides that no storage charges shall accrue if the vehicle is reclaimed by paying recovery and towing charges at the posted rates of the towing service within 7 days after a request for registered owner information is mailed by the towing service, certified mail, return receipt requested, to the applicable administrative agency or office in that state. Provides that the towing service shall enjoy a lien to secure payment of charges accrued in compliance with the provisions. Provides that when a vehicle is authorized to be towed away, a copy of the authorization shall be provided to the towing company within one hour of the authorization. Requires that the authorization for a tow include the name of the registered owner of the vehicle and the mailing address of the registered owner of the vehicle on file with the Secretary of State, any hold order, and any release, except to the extent such information is made available under written agreement with the Secretary of State.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-26 - Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. [SB2654 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2654-Engrossed.html

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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
5changing Sections 4-203 and 4-204 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 for 10 hours or more, its removal by a towing service
15may be authorized by a law enforcement agency having
16jurisdiction.
17 (c) When a vehicle is abandoned or left unattended on a
18highway other than a toll highway, interstate highway, or
19expressway, outside of an urban district for 24 hours or more,
20its removal by a towing service may be authorized by a law
21enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
22 (d) When an abandoned, unattended, wrecked, burned, or
23partially dismantled vehicle is creating a traffic hazard

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1because of its position in relation to the highway or its
2physical appearance is causing the impeding of traffic, its
3immediate removal from the highway or private property
4adjacent to the highway by a towing service may be authorized
5by a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.
6 (e) Whenever a peace officer reasonably believes that a
7person under arrest for a violation of Section 11-501 of this
8Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance is likely,
9upon release, to commit a subsequent violation of Section
1011-501, or a similar provision of a local ordinance, the
11arresting officer shall have the vehicle which the person was
12operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a period of
1312 hours after the time of arrest. However, such vehicle may be
14released by the arresting law enforcement agency prior to the
15end of the impoundment period if:
16 (1) the vehicle was not owned by the person under
17 arrest, and the lawful owner requesting such release
18 possesses a valid operator's license, proof of ownership,
19 and would not, as determined by the arresting law
20 enforcement agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate
21 a motor vehicle in a safe manner, or who would otherwise,
22 by operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this
23 Code; or
24 (2) the vehicle is owned by the person under arrest,
25 and the person under arrest gives permission to another
26 person to operate such vehicle, provided however, that the

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1 other person possesses a valid operator's license and
2 would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement
3 agency, indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor
4 vehicle in a safe manner or who would otherwise, by
5 operating such motor vehicle, be in violation of this
6 Code.
7 (e-5) Whenever a registered owner of a vehicle is taken
8into custody for operating the vehicle in violation of Section
911-501 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance
10or Section 6-303 of this Code, a law enforcement officer may
11have the vehicle immediately impounded for a period not less
12than:
13 (1) 24 hours for a second violation of Section 11-501
14 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
15 Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
16 offenses; or
17 (2) 48 hours for a third violation of Section 11-501
18 of this Code or a similar provision of a local ordinance or
19 Section 6-303 of this Code or a combination of these
20 offenses.
21 The vehicle may be released sooner if the vehicle is owned
22by the person under arrest and the person under arrest gives
23permission to another person to operate the vehicle and that
24other person possesses a valid operator's license and would
25not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency,
26indicate a lack of ability to operate a motor vehicle in a safe

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1manner or would otherwise, by operating the motor vehicle, be
2in violation of this Code.
3 (f) Except as provided in Chapter 18a of this Code, the
4owner or lessor of privately owned real property within this
5State, or any person authorized by such owner or lessor, or any
6law enforcement agency in the case of publicly owned real
7property may cause any motor vehicle abandoned or left
8unattended upon such property without permission to be removed
9by a towing service without liability for the costs of
10removal, transportation or storage or damage caused by such
11removal, transportation or storage. The towing or removal of
12any vehicle from private property without the consent of the
13registered owner or other legally authorized person in control
14of the vehicle is subject to compliance with the following
15conditions and restrictions:
16 1. Any towed or removed vehicle must be stored at the
17 site of the towing service's place of business. The site
18 must be open during business hours, and for the purpose of
19 redemption of vehicles, during the time that the person or
20 firm towing such vehicle is open for towing purposes.
21 2. The towing service shall within 30 minutes of
22 completion of such towing or removal, notify the law
23 enforcement agency having jurisdiction of such towing or
24 removal, and the make, model, color, and license plate
25 number of the vehicle, and shall obtain and record the
26 name of the person at the law enforcement agency to whom

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1 such information was reported.
2 3. If the registered owner or legally authorized
3 person entitled to possession of the vehicle shall arrive
4 at the scene prior to actual removal or towing of the
5 vehicle, the vehicle shall be disconnected from the tow
6 truck and that person shall be allowed to remove the
7 vehicle without interference, upon the payment of a
8 reasonable service fee of not more than one-half the
9 posted rate of the towing service as provided in paragraph
10 6 of this subsection, for which a receipt shall be given.
11 4. The rebate or payment of money or any other
12 valuable consideration from the towing service or its
13 owners, managers, or employees to the owners or operators
14 of the premises from which the vehicles are towed or
15 removed, for the privilege of removing or towing those
16 vehicles, is prohibited. Any individual who violates this
17 paragraph shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
18 5. Except for property appurtenant to and obviously a
19 part of a single family residence, and except for
20 instances where notice is personally given to the owner or
21 other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle
22 that the area in which that vehicle is parked is reserved
23 or otherwise unavailable to unauthorized vehicles and they
24 are subject to being removed at the owner or operator's
25 expense, any property owner or lessor, prior to towing or
26 removing any vehicle from private property without the

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1 consent of the owner or other legally authorized person in
2 control of that vehicle, must post a notice meeting the
3 following requirements:
4 a. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph
5 a.1 of this subdivision (f)5, the notice must be
6 prominently placed at each driveway access or curb cut
7 allowing vehicular access to the property within 5
8 feet from the public right-of-way line. If there are
9 no curbs or access barriers, the sign must be posted
10 not less than one sign each 100 feet of lot frontage.
11 a.1. In a municipality with a population of less
12 than 250,000, as an alternative to the requirement of
13 subparagraph a of this subdivision (f)5, the notice
14 for a parking lot contained within property used
15 solely for a 2-family, 3-family, or 4-family residence
16 may be prominently placed at the perimeter of the
17 parking lot, in a position where the notice is visible
18 to the occupants of vehicles entering the lot.
19 b. The notice must indicate clearly, in not less
20 than 2 inch high light-reflective letters on a
21 contrasting background, that unauthorized vehicles
22 will be towed away at the owner's expense.
23 c. The notice must also provide the name and
24 current telephone number of the towing service towing
25 or removing the vehicle.
26 d. The sign structure containing the required

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

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

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

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1Illinois Municipal Code or Section 5-12002.1 of the Counties
2Code, its removal and impoundment by a towing service may be
3authorized by a law enforcement agency with appropriate
4jurisdiction.
5 (2) When a vehicle removal from either public or private
6property is authorized by a law enforcement agency, the owner
7of the vehicle shall be responsible for all towing and storage
8charges.
9 (3) Vehicles removed from public or private property and
10stored by a commercial vehicle relocator or any other towing
11service authorized by a law enforcement agency in compliance
12with this Section and Sections 4-201 and 4-202 of this Code, or
13at the request of the vehicle owner or operator, shall be
14subject to a possessor lien for services pursuant to the Labor
15and Storage Lien (Small Amount) Act. The provisions of Section
161 of that Act relating to notice and implied consent shall be
17deemed satisfied by compliance with Section 18a-302 and
18subsection (6) of Section 18a-300. In no event shall such lien
19be greater than the rate or rates established in accordance
20with subsection (6) of Section 18a-200 of this Code. In no
21event shall such lien be increased or altered to reflect any
22charge for services or materials rendered in addition to those
23authorized by this Code. Every such lien shall be payable in
24cash or by cashier's check, certified check, debit card,
25credit card, or wire transfer, at the option of the party
26taking possession of the vehicle.

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

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

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1person was operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a
2period of 5 days after the time of arrest. An impounding agency
3shall release a motor vehicle impounded under this subsection
4(h) to the registered owner of the vehicle under any of the
5following circumstances:
6 (1) if the vehicle is a stolen vehicle; or
7 (2) if the person ticketed for a violation of
8 subsection (a) of Section 11-506 of this Code was not
9 authorized by the registered owner of the vehicle to
10 operate the vehicle at the time of the violation; or
11 (3) if the registered owner of the vehicle was neither
12 the driver nor a passenger in the vehicle at the time of
13 the violation or was unaware that the driver was using the
14 vehicle to engage in street racing; or
15 (4) if the legal owner or registered owner of the
16 vehicle is a rental car agency; or
17 (5) if, prior to the expiration of the impoundment
18 period specified above, the citation is dismissed or the
19 defendant is found not guilty of the offense.
20 (i) Except for vehicles exempted under subsection (b) of
21Section 7-601 of this Code, whenever a law enforcement officer
22issues a citation to a driver for a violation of Section 3-707
23of this Code, and the driver has a prior conviction for a
24violation of Section 3-707 of this Code in the past 12 months,
25the arresting officer shall authorize the removal and
26impoundment of the vehicle by a towing service.

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1 (j) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a
2person has indicated in a timely filed report to the
3appropriate law enforcement agency that a vehicle towed
4pursuant to this Section has been stolen or hijacked then:
5 (1) the person shall not be liable for any
6 governmentally imposed fees, fines, or penalties; and
7 (2) if a vehicle towed pursuant to this Section is
8 registered in Illinois and the name and address of the
9 registered owner of the vehicle is provided or made
10 available to the towing service at the time of the tow,
11 then the towing service must provide written notice of the
12 tow to the registered owner within 2 business days after
13 the vehicle is towed by certified mail, return receipt
14 requested. No storage charges shall accrue if the vehicle
15 is reclaimed by paying recovery and towing charges at the
16 posted rates of the towing service as provided by
17 paragraph 6 of subsection (f) within 7 days after such
18 notice is mailed. If the vehicle is registered in a state
19 other than Illinois, then no storage charges shall accrue
20 if the vehicle is reclaimed by paying recovery and towing
21 charges at the posted rates of the towing service as
22 provided by paragraph 6 of subsection (f) within 7 days
23 after a request for registered owner information is mailed
24 by the towing service, certified mail, return receipt
25 requested, to the applicable administrative agency or
26 office in that state.

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1 The towing service shall enjoy a lien to secure payment of
2charges accrued in compliance with this subsection.
3(Source: P.A. 102-982, eff. 7-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
4 (625 ILCS 5/4-204) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-204)
5 Sec. 4-204. Police tows; reports, release of vehicles,
6payment. When a vehicle is authorized to be towed away as
7provided in Section 4-202 or 4-203:
8 (a) A copy of the authorization shall be provided to
9 the towing company within one hour of the authorization.
10 The authorization shall include the name of the registered
11 owner of the vehicle, the mailing address of the
12 registered owner of the vehicle on file with the Secretary
13 of State, any hold order, and any release, except to the
14 extent such information is made available under written
15 agreement with the Secretary of State The authorization,
16 any hold order, and any release shall be in writing, or
17 confirmed in writing, with a copy given to the towing
18 service.
19 (b) The police headquarters or office of the law
20 officer authorizing the towing shall keep and maintain a
21 record of the vehicle towed, listing the color, year of
22 manufacture, manufacturer's trade name, manufacturer's
23 series name, body style, Vehicle Identification Number,
24 license plate or digital license plate year and number and
25 registration sticker or digital registration sticker year

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1 and number displayed on the vehicle. The record shall also
2 include the date and hour of tow, location towed from,
3 location towed to, reason for towing and the name of the
4 officer authorizing the tow.
5 (c) The owner, operator, or other legally entitled
6 person shall be responsible to the towing service for
7 payment of applicable removal, towing, storage, and
8 processing charges and collection costs associated with a
9 vehicle towed or held under order or authorization of a
10 law enforcement agency. If a vehicle towed or held under
11 order or authorization of a law enforcement agency is
12 seized by the ordering or authorizing agency or any other
13 law enforcement or governmental agency and sold, any
14 unpaid removal, towing, storage, and processing charges
15 and collection costs shall be paid to the towing service
16 from the proceeds of the sale. If applicable law provides
17 that the proceeds are to be paid into the treasury of the
18 appropriate civil jurisdiction, then any unpaid removal,
19 towing, storage, and processing charges and collection
20 costs shall be paid to the towing service from the
21 treasury of the civil jurisdiction. That payment shall
22 not, however, exceed the amount of proceeds from the sale,
23 with the balance to be paid by the owner, operator, or
24 other legally entitled person.
25 (d) Upon delivery of a written release order to the
26 towing service, a vehicle subject to a hold order shall be

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