Bill Text: WV HB2126 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing a clear zone in the event that a vehicle is stopped along a highway

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-09 - To House Roads and Transportation [HB2126 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2014-HB2126-Introduced.html

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H. B. 2126

          (By Delegates Staggers and Ferro)
          [Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation then the Judiciary.]



A BILL to amend and reenact §17C-13-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the removal of vehicles from state highways in order to restore traffic movement in emergency situations; and providing that the vehicle's owner is liable for the costs of removal and storage.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     That §17C-13-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13. STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING.
§17C-13-5. Removal of vehicles parked, etc., on controlled- access highway highways in emergencies; liability for costs of removal and storage; liens for towing and storage.
               Whenever a vehicle has been stopped, parked or left standing upon any part of a controlled-access highway or constitutes an obstruction to the restoration of traffic flow as the result of an accident or other emergency, any police officer or employee of the state road commission Division of Highways, duly authorized by the commissioner, may remove or order the removal of the vehicle, by towing or otherwise, to the nearest available established garage or parking lot for storage until called for by the owner or his or her agent. The owner shall be liable for the reasonable cost of such removal and storage, and until payment of such the cost the garage or parking lot operator may retain possession of the vehicle subject to a lien for the amount due. The garage or parking lot operator may enforce his or her lien for towing and storage in the manner provided in section fourteen, article eleven, chapter thirty-eight of this code for the enforcement of other liens.



               NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide a clear zone in the event that a vehicle is stopped along a highway or impedes the flow of traffic in emergency situations. The bill permits the removal of vehicles from state highways in order to restore traffic movement in emergency situations. The bill also provides that the vehicle's owner is liable for the costs of removal and storage.

               Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.