Bill Text: IN SB0079 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Motor fuel theft.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-18 - Effective 07/01/2011 [SB0079 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-SB0079-Enrolled.html
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in
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AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.
(1) For use by a government agency, including a court or law enforcement agency, in carrying out its functions, or a person acting on behalf of a government agency in carrying out its functions.
(2) For use in connection with matters concerning:
(A) motor vehicle or driver safety and theft;
(B) motor vehicle emissions;
(C) motor vehicle product alterations, recalls, or advisories;
(D) performance monitoring of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, and dealers;
(E) motor vehicle market research activities, including survey research;
(F) the removal of nonowner records from the original owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers; and
(G) motor fuel theft under IC 24-4.6-5.
(3) For use in the normal course of business by a business or its
agents, employees, or contractors, but only:
(A) to verify the accuracy of personal information submitted
by an individual to the business or its agents, employees, or
contractors; and
(B) if information submitted to a business is not correct or is
no longer correct, to obtain the correct information only for
purposes of preventing fraud by, pursuing legal remedies
against, or recovering on a debt or security interest against, the
individual.
(4) For use in connection with a civil, a criminal, an
administrative, or an arbitration proceeding in a court or
government agency or before a self-regulatory body, including the
service of process, investigation in anticipation of litigation, and
the execution or enforcement of judgments and orders, or under
an order of a court.
(5) For use in research activities, and for use in producing
statistical reports, as long as the personal information is not
published, re-disclosed, or used to contact the individuals who are
the subject of the personal information.
(6) For use by an insurer, an insurance support organization, or a
self-insured entity, or the agents, employees, or contractors of an
insurer, an insurance support organization, or a self-insured entity
in connection with claims investigation activities, anti-fraud
activities, rating, or underwriting.
(7) For use in providing notice to the owners of towed or
impounded vehicles.
(8) For use by a licensed private investigative agency or licensed
security service for a purpose allowed under this section.
(9) For use by an employer or its agent or insurer to obtain or
verify information relating to a holder of a commercial driver's
license that is required under the Commercial Motor Vehicle
Safety Act of 1986 (49 U.S.C. 2710 et seq.).
(10) For use in connection with the operation of private toll
transportation facilities.
(11) For any use in response to requests for individual motor
vehicle records when the bureau has obtained the written consent
of the person to whom the personal information pertains.
(12) For bulk distribution for surveys, marketing, or solicitations
when the bureau has obtained the written consent of the person to
whom the personal information pertains.
(13) For use by any person, when the person demonstrates, in a
form and manner prescribed by the bureau, that written consent
has been obtained from the individual who is the subject of the
information.
(14) For any other use specifically authorized by law that is
related to the operation of a motor vehicle or public safety.
However, this section does not affect the use of anatomical gift
information on a person's driver's license or identification document
issued by the bureau, nor does it affect the administration of anatomical
gift initiatives in the state.
Chapter 5. Vehicle Owner Liability for Motor Fuel Theft
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "motor fuel" includes gasoline (as defined in IC 6-6-1.1-103(g)), special fuel (as defined in IC 6-6-2.5-22), and alternative fuel (as defined in IC 6-6-2.5-1).
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "retailer" means a person that engages in the business of selling or distributing motor fuel to an end user within Indiana.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "vehicle" has the meaning set forth in IC 6-6-5-1(a).
Sec. 4. (a) Subject to section 6(b) of this chapter, if:
(1) motor fuel from a retailer is pumped into a vehicle; and
(2) proper payment is not made to the retailer for the motor fuel;
the owner of the vehicle is liable to the retailer for the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped into the vehicle plus a service charge of fifty dollars ($50), and the cost of certified mail, return receipt requested, or as provided in IC 1-1-7-1(a).
(b) The service charge may be imposed upon a vehicle owner when notice is mailed to the vehicle owner under section 5 of this chapter. Only one (1) service charge may be imposed under this section for each incident in which motor fuel is pumped into a vehicle and proper payment is not made.
Sec. 5. (a) To collect a liability from a vehicle owner under this chapter, an association of retailers must first send a notice of nonpayment to the vehicle owner by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address indicated by records obtained under section 8 of this chapter.
(b) A notice sent under subsection (a) must:
(1) state the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped into the vehicle owner's vehicle and the amount of the service charge;
(2) state how the vehicle owner is to pay the liability;
(3) include a copy of this chapter and IC 34-24-3;
(4) state that, subject to section 6(b) of this chapter, the vehicle owner is subject to liability for an amount equal to triple the total pump price of the motor fuel received plus other damages under IC 34-24-3-1 if the liability is not paid within thirty (30) days; and
(5) include a signed statement by the retailer or the employee of the retailer who reported the incident in which motor fuel was pumped into the vehicle owner's vehicle and proper payment was not made, setting forth:
(A) the date, time, and location of the incident; and
(B) the license plate number of the vehicle into which the motor fuel was pumped.
Sec. 6. (a) Subject to subsection (b), if a vehicle owner does not pay the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped and the service charge within thirty (30) days after the association of retailers sends the notice to the vehicle owner under section 5 of this chapter, the vehicle owner:
(1) is liable to the retailer for:
(A) the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped, as set forth in the notice sent under section 5 of this chapter; and
(B) the service charge under section 4 of this chapter; and
(2) is subject to liability to the retailer for other damages, costs, fees, and expenses in an action brought by the retailer under IC 34-24-3-1.
(b) If a vehicle owner, not more than thirty (30) days after the association of retailers sends the notice to the vehicle owner under section 5 of this chapter, sends written notice to the association of retailers:
(1) disputing the retailer's claim that motor fuel was pumped into the vehicle owner's vehicle and proper payment was not made; or
(2) stating that, when motor fuel was pumped into the vehicle owner's vehicle and proper payment was not made, the vehicle owner was not operating the vehicle and was not responsible for paying for the motor fuel pumped into the vehicle;
the vehicle owner does not become liable to the retailer under subsection (a)(1), and the association of retailers shall cease communications and all collection efforts under this chapter. However, the retailer may pursue a civil action against the vehicle
owner under IC 34-24-3-1.
Sec. 7. If a vehicle owner does not:
(1) pay the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped and the
service charge in response to a notice sent by a retailer under
this chapter; or
(2) reply to the retailer's notice with a written notice under
section 6(b)(1) or 6(b)(2) of this chapter;
the vehicle owner's civil liability under this chapter does not
preclude criminal liability under IC 35-43-4-2, IC 35-43-4-3,
IC 35-43-4-8, or any other law.
Sec. 8. (a) The bureau of motor vehicles shall adopt rules under
IC 4-22-2 to implement a system by which an association of
retailers may obtain the name and mailing address of the owner of
a vehicle involved in an incident in which motor fuel is pumped
into the vehicle and proper payment is not made. The bureau of
motor vehicles may integrate any system established under this
section with its existing programs for the release of information
under IC 9-14-3.
(b) The bureau of motor vehicles may enter into an agreement
with an association of retailers to establish:
(1) a fee different from the fees provided for in IC 9-29-2-2(a);
or
(2) other negotiated terms for the release of vehicle owner
records;
for purposes of the system established under this section.
(c) Any release of information by the bureau of motor vehicles
under this section must be:
(1) consistent with the authority of the bureau of motor
vehicles under IC 9-14-3.5; and
(2) in compliance with 18 U.S.C. 2721 et seq.
(d) The name and mailing address of the owner of a vehicle
released by the bureau of motor vehicles under subsection (a) may
be used by an association of retailers only for purposes of collection
efforts under this chapter.
(e) If the owner of a vehicle makes complete payment:
(1) as set forth in section 4(a) of this chapter for the:
(A) price of motor fuel that has been pumped into the
vehicle;
(B) service charge of fifty dollars ($50); and
(C) cost of certified mail; or
(2) for an amount equal to triple the pump price of the motor
fuel received plus other damages under IC 34-24-3-1, as set
forth in section 5(b)(4) of this chapter;
no criminal prosecution for a violation of IC 35-43-4 may be
brought against the owner of the vehicle for the failure to make
proper payment to a retailer under this chapter.
(1) An amount not to exceed three (3) times:
(A) the actual damages of the person suffering the loss, in the case of a liability that is not covered by IC 24-4.6-5; or
(B) the total pump price of the motor fuel received, in the case of a liability that is covered by IC 24-4.6-5.
(2) The costs of the action.
(3) A reasonable attorney's fee.
(4) Actual travel expenses that are not otherwise reimbursed under subdivisions (1) through (3) and are incurred by the person suffering loss to:
(A) have the person suffering loss or an employee or agent of that person file papers and attend court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter; or
(B) provide witnesses to testify in court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter.
(5) A reasonable amount to compensate the person suffering loss for time used to:
(A) file papers and attend court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter; or
(B) travel to and from activities described in clause (A).
(6) Actual direct and indirect expenses incurred by the person suffering loss to compensate employees and agents for time used to:
(A) file papers and attend court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter; or
(B) travel to and from activities described in clause (A).
(7) All other reasonable costs of collection.
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