SB2248 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 15985 DRH 51217 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB2248

Introduced 1/11/2006, by Sen. Terry Link

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/4-213	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-213
625 ILCS 5/11-402	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-402
625 ILCS 5/11-404	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-404

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, if a damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic lanes, the driver of the vehicle must make every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to block the traffic lanes. Provides that, if any peace officer or highway authority official finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of a parking restriction or a disabled vehicle blocking a roadway, he or she may move the vehicle, require its operator to move the vehicle, or provide for its removal by a third party. Provides that the vehicle may be moved to the shoulder of the road, to a position where parking is permitted, or to public parking or storage premises. Provides that the operator or owner of the vehicle removed shall pay the reasonable charges for moving or towing and any storage involved, based upon the applicable local ordinance. Provides that a towing service is not liable for any property damage that occurs as a result of the removal or towing of the vehicle. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 4-213, 11-402, and 11-404 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/4-213) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-213)

Sec. 4-213. Liability of law enforcement officers, agencies, and towing services.

(a) A law enforcement officer or agency, a department of municipal government designated under Section 4-212.1 or its officers or employees, or a towing service owner, operator, or employee shall not be held to answer or be liable for damages in any action brought by the registered owner, former registered owner, or his legal representative, lienholder or any other person legally entitled to the possession of a vehicle when the vehicle was processed and sold or disposed of as provided by this Chapter.

(b) A towing service, and any of its officers or employees, that removes or tows a vehicle as a result of being directed to do so by a law enforcement officer or agency or a department of municipal government or its officers or employees shall not be held to answer or be liable for injury to, loss of, or damages to any real or personal property that occurs in the course of the removal or towing of a vehicle or its contents (i) on a limited access highway in a designated Incident Management Program that uses fast lane clearance techniques as defined by the Department of Transportation or (ii) at the direction of a peace officer, a highway authority official, or a representative of local authorities, under Section 11-402 or 11-404 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 89-433, eff. 12-15-95.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-402) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-402)

Sec. 11-402. Motor vehicle accident involving damage to vehicle.

(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such motor vehicle accident or as close thereto as possible, but shall forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of such motor vehicle accident until the requirements of Section 11-403 have been fulfilled. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. If a damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic lanes, the driver of the vehicle must make every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to block the traffic lanes.

Any person failing to comply with this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) Upon conviction of a violation of this Section, the court shall make a finding as to whether the damage to a vehicle is in excess of $1,000, and in such case a statement of this finding shall be reported to the Secretary of State with the report of conviction as required by Section 6-204 of this Code. Upon receipt of such report of conviction and statement of finding that the damage to a vehicle is in excess of $1,000, the Secretary of State shall suspend the driver's license or any nonresident's driving privilege.

(c) If any peace officer or highway authority official finds (i) a vehicle standing upon a highway or toll highway in violation of a prohibition, limitation, or restriction on stopping, standing, or parking imposed under this Code or (ii) a disabled vehicle that obstructs the roadway of a highway or toll highway, the peace officer or highway authority official is authorized to move the vehicle or to require the operator of the vehicle to move the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, to a position where parking is permitted, or to public parking or storage premises. The removal may be performed by, or under the direction of, the peace officer or highway authority official or may be contracted for by local authorities. Any charges for removal shall be regulated by local ordinance. The operator or owner of the vehicle removed shall pay the reasonable charges for moving or towing and any storage involved, based upon the ordinance.

(d) A towing service, its officers, and its employees are not liable for injury to, loss of, or damages to any real or personal property that occurs as the result of the removal or towing of any vehicle under subsection (c), as provided in subsection (b) of Section 4-213.

(Source: P.A. 83-831.)

(625 ILCS 5/11-404) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-404)

Sec. 11-404. Duty upon damaging unattended vehicle or other property.

(a) The driver of any vehicle which collides with or is involved in a motor vehicle accident with any vehicle which is unattended, or other property, resulting in any damage to such other vehicle or property shall immediately stop and shall then and there either locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle or other property of the driver's name, address, registration number and owner of the vehicle the driver was operating or shall attach securely in a conspicuous place on or in the vehicle or other property struck a written notice giving the driver's name, address, registration number and owner of the vehicle the driver was driving and shall without unnecessary delay notify the nearest office of a duly authorized police authority and shall make a written report of such accident when and as required in Section 11-406. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. If a damaged vehicle is obstructing traffic lanes, the driver of the vehicle must make every reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to block the traffic lanes.

(b) Any person failing to comply with this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(c) If any peace officer or highway authority official finds (i) a vehicle standing upon a highway or toll highway in violation of a prohibition, limitation, or restriction on stopping, standing, or parking imposed under this Code or (ii) a disabled vehicle that obstructs the roadway of a highway or toll highway, the peace officer or highway authority official is authorized to move the vehicle or to require the operator of the vehicle to move the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, to a position where parking is permitted, or to public parking or storage premises. The removal may be performed by, or under the direction of, the peace officer or highway authority official or may be contracted for by local authorities. Any charges for removal shall be regulated by local ordinance. The operator or owner of the vehicle removed shall pay the reasonable charges for moving or towing and any storage involved, based upon the ordinance.

(d) A towing service, its officers, and its employees are not liable for injury to, loss of, or damages to any real or personal property that occurs as the result of the removal or towing of any vehicle under subsection (c), as provided in subsection (b) of Section 4-213.

(Source: P.A. 83-831.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.