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H.B. 119

             1     

MOTOR VEHICLE IMPOUND AMENDMENTS

             2     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis Oda

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code by amending provisions relating to
             10      impounded motor vehicles.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides that any law enforcement officer ordered vehicle impound shall be
             14      reported to the Motor Vehicle Division by the peace officer or the agency the peace
             15      officer is employed by;
             16          .    imposes a $25 fee on vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor impounds ordered for a
             17      violation of certain motor vehicle offenses;
             18          .    provides that revenues from the $25 impound fee shall be used by the Motor
             19      Vehicle Division as dedicated credits to pay the costs of providing certain
             20      notifications and regulating state impound yards within the state;
             21          .    provides that a vehicle is an abandoned vehicle if it is left in an impound yard,
             22      garage, or docking area for more than 30 days after certain notices have been
             23      provided;
             24          .    provides that a lienholder or a leasing company that legally owns the vehicle is not
             25      subject to the penalty for abandoning a vehicle in an impound yard, garage, or
             26      docking area;
             27          .    provides that it is a class C misdemeanor to abandon a motor vehicle on public or


             28      private property or in an impound yard, garage, or docking area;
             29          .    establishes an affirmative defense to abandoning a vehicle in an impound yard,
             30      garage, or docking area;
             31          .    requires the Motor Vehicle Division to inform the registered owner and lienholder
             32      that it is a class C misdemeanor for a person to leave a motor vehicle for more than
             33      30 days in an impound yard, garage, or docking area in the impound notice provided
             34      by the Motor Vehicle Division; and
             35          .    makes technical changes.
             36      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             37          None
             38      Other Special Clauses:
             39          This bill takes effect on October 1, 2010.
             40      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             41      AMENDS:
             42          41-6a-1406, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 167
             43          41-6a-1408, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
             44          53-3-106, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapters 113 and 183
             45     
             46      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             47          Section 1. Section 41-6a-1406 is amended to read:
             48           41-6a-1406. Removal and impoundment of vehicles -- Reporting and notification
             49      requirements -- Administrative impound fee -- Refunds -- Possessory lien -- Rulemaking.
             50          (1) [If a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is removed or impounded as provided under
             51      Section 41-1a-1101 , 41-6a-527 , 41-6a-1405 , 41-6a-1408 , or 73-18-20.1 by an order of a peace
             52      officer or by an order of a person acting on behalf of a law enforcement agency or highway
             53      authority, the] The removal or impoundment of [the] a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor shall
             54      be at the expense of the owner[.] if the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is removed or
             55      impounded by an order of a peace officer or by an order of a person acting on behalf of a law
             56      enforcement agency or highway authority:
             57          (a) as provided under Section 41-1a-1101 , 41-6a-527 , 41-6a-1405 , 41-6a-1408 , or
             58      73-18-20.1 ; or


             59          (b) for any other reason.
             60          (2) The vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor under Subsection (1) shall be removed or
             61      impounded to:
             62          (a) a state impound yard; or
             63          (b) if none, a garage, docking area, or other place of safety.
             64          (3) The peace officer may move a vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor or cause it to be
             65      removed by a tow truck motor carrier that meets standards established:
             66          (a) under Title 72, Chapter 9, Motor Carrier Safety Act; and
             67          (b) by the department under Subsection (10).
             68          (4) (a) Immediately after the removal of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor, a report
             69      of the removal shall be sent to the Motor Vehicle Division by:
             70          (i) the peace officer or agency by whom the peace officer is employed; and
             71          (ii) the tow truck operator or the tow truck motor carrier by whom the tow truck
             72      operator is employed.
             73          (b) The report shall be in a form specified by the Motor Vehicle Division and shall
             74      include:
             75          (i) the operator's name, if known;
             76          (ii) a description of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor;
             77          (iii) the vehicle identification number or vessel or outboard motor identification
             78      number;
             79          (iv) the license number or other identification number issued by a state agency;
             80          (v) the date, time, and place of impoundment;
             81          (vi) the reason for removal or impoundment;
             82          (vii) the name of the tow truck motor carrier who removed the vehicle, vessel, or
             83      outboard motor; and
             84          (viii) the place where the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored.
             85          (c) Until the tow truck operator or tow truck motor carrier reports the removal as
             86      required under this Subsection (4), a tow truck motor carrier or impound yard may not:
             87          (i) collect any fee associated with the removal; and
             88          (ii) begin charging storage fees.
             89          (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(e) and upon receipt of the report, the


             90      Motor Vehicle Division shall give notice to the registered owner of the vehicle, vessel, or
             91      outboard motor and any lien holder in the manner prescribed by Section 41-1a-114 .
             92          (b) The notice shall:
             93          (i) state the date, time, and place of removal, the name, if applicable, of the person
             94      operating the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor at the time of removal, the reason for removal,
             95      and the place where the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored;
             96          (ii) state that the registered owner is responsible for payment of towing, impound, and
             97      storage fees charged against the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor;
             98          (iii) inform the registered owner of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor of the
             99      conditions that must be satisfied before the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is released; [and]
             100          (iv) inform the registered owner and lienholder of the division's intent to sell the
             101      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor, if within 30 days from the date of the removal or
             102      impoundment under this section, the owner, lien holder, or the owner's agent fails to make a
             103      claim for release of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor[.]; and
             104          (v) inform the registered owner and lienholder that it is a class C misdemeanor for a
             105      person to leave a motor vehicle for more than 30 days in an impound yard, garage, or docking
             106      area after the notice has been provided.
             107          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(e) and if the vehicle, vessel, or outboard
             108      motor is not registered in this state, the Motor Vehicle Division shall make a reasonable effort
             109      to notify the registered owner and any lien holder of the removal and the place where the
             110      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored.
             111          (d) The Motor Vehicle Division shall forward a copy of the notice to the place where
             112      the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor is stored.
             113          (e) The Motor Vehicle Division is not required to give notice under this Subsection (5)
             114      if a report was received by a tow truck operator or tow truck motor carrier reporting a tow truck
             115      service in accordance with Subsection 72-9-603 (1)(a)(i).
             116          (6) (a) The vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor shall be released after the registered
             117      owner, lien holder, or the owner's agent:
             118          (i) makes a claim for release of the vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor at any office of
             119      the State Tax Commission;
             120          (ii) presents identification sufficient to prove ownership of the impounded vehicle,


             121      vessel, or outboard motor;
             122          (iii) completes the registration, if needed, and pays the appropriate fees;
             123          (iv) if the impoundment was made for a violation of Section 41-1a-1101 , 41-6a-527 ,
             124      41-6a-1405 , or 41-6a-1408 , pays an administrative impound fee of $25;
             125          [(iv)] (v) if the impoundment was made under Section 41-6a-527 , pays an additional
             126      administrative impound fee of $330; and
             127          [(v)] (vi) pays all towing and storage fees to the place where the vehicle, vessel, or
             128      outboard motor is stored.
             129          (b) The revenues from the administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection
             130      (6)(a)(iv) are dedicated credits to the Motor Vehicle Division to cover the costs of:
             131          (i) administering the provisions of this section; and
             132          (ii) regulating state impound yards within the state.
             133          [(b)] (c) (i) Twenty-nine dollars of the administrative impound fee assessed under
             134      Subsection (6)(a)[(iv)](v) shall be dedicated credits to the Motor Vehicle Division;
             135          (ii) $97 of the administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection (6)(a)[(iv)](v)
             136      shall be deposited in the Department of Public Safety Restricted Account created in Section
             137      53-3-106 ; and
             138          (iii) the remainder of the administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection
             139      (6)(a)[(iv)](v) shall be deposited in the General Fund.
             140          [(c)] (d) The administrative impound fee assessed under Subsection (6)(a)[(iv)](v) shall
             141      be waived or refunded by the State Tax Commission if the registered owner, lien holder, or
             142      owner's agent presents written evidence to the State Tax Commission that:
             143          (i) the Driver License Division determined that the arrested person's driver license
             144      should not be suspended or revoked under Section 53-3-223 or 41-6a-521 as shown by a letter
             145      or other report from the Driver License Division presented within 30 days of the final
             146      notification from the Driver License Division; or
             147          (ii) the vehicle was stolen at the time of the impoundment as shown by a copy of the
             148      stolen vehicle report presented within 30 days of the impoundment.
             149          (7) (a) An impounded vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor not claimed by the registered
             150      owner or the owner's agent within the time prescribed by Section 41-1a-1103 shall be sold in
             151      accordance with that section and the proceeds, if any, shall be disposed of as provided under


             152      Section 41-1a-1104 .
             153          (b) The date of impoundment is considered the date of seizure for computing the time
             154      period provided under Section 41-1a-1103 .
             155          (8) The registered owner who pays all fees and charges incurred in the impoundment of
             156      the owner's vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor, has a cause of action for all the fees and
             157      charges, together with damages, court costs, and attorney fees, against the operator of the
             158      vehicle, vessel, or outboard motor whose actions caused the removal or impoundment.
             159          (9) Towing, impound fees, and storage fees are a possessory lien on the vehicle, vessel,
             160      or outboard motor.
             161          (10) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
             162      the department shall make rules setting the performance standards for towing companies to be
             163      used by the department.
             164          (11) (a) The Motor Vehicle Division may specify that a report required under
             165      Subsection (4) be submitted in electronic form utilizing a database for submission, storage, and
             166      retrieval of the information.
             167          (b) (i) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the Motor Vehicle Division or the
             168      administrator of the database may adopt a schedule of fees assessed for utilizing the database.
             169          (ii) The fees under this Subsection (11)(b) shall:
             170          (A) be reasonable and fair; and
             171          (B) reflect the cost of administering the database.
             172          Section 2. Section 41-6a-1408 is amended to read:
             173           41-6a-1408. Abandoned vehicles -- Removal by peace officer -- Report -- Vehicle
             174      identification.
             175          (1) As used in this section, "abandoned vehicle" means a vehicle that:
             176          (a) is left unattended:
             177          [(a)] (i) on a highway for a period in excess of 48 hours; or
             178          [(b)] (ii) on public or private property for a period in excess of seven days without
             179      express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the
             180      property[.]; or
             181          (b) is left for more than 30 days in an impound yard, garage, or docking area after
             182      notice has been provided under Section 41-6a-1406 or 72-9-603 to the registered owner and


             183      lienholder of the vehicle.
             184          (2) A person may not abandon a vehicle on a highway.
             185          (3) A person may not abandon a vehicle on public or private property without the
             186      express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the
             187      property.
             188          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), a person may not abandon a vehicle in
             189      an impound yard, garage, or docking area by leaving the vehicle for more than 30 days in an
             190      impound yard, garage, or docking area after notice has been provided under Section
             191      41-6a-1406 or 72-9-603 to the registered owner and lienholder of the vehicle.
             192          (b) A person is not subject to a penalty for a violation described in Subsection (4)(a) if
             193      the person is:
             194          (i) a lienholder; or
             195          (ii) a leasing company that legally owns the vehicle.
             196          (c) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of Subsection (4)(a) if the person:
             197          (i) has made a good faith attempt to recover the vehicle or surrender a clear title for the
             198      vehicle to the impound yard, garage, or docking area within the 30-day time period described in
             199      Subsection (4)(a); and
             200          (ii) recovers the vehicle or surrenders a clear title for the vehicle to the impound yard,
             201      garage, or docking area within 40 days after the notice has been provided under Section
             202      41-6a-1406 or 72-9-603 to the registered owner and lienholder of the vehicle.
             203          [(4)] (5) A peace officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle has been
             204      abandoned may remove the vehicle or cause it to be removed in accordance with Section
             205      41-6a-1406 .
             206          [(5)] (6) If the motor number, manufacturer's number or identification mark of the
             207      abandoned vehicle has been defaced, altered or obliterated, the vehicle may not be released or
             208      sold until:
             209          (a) the original motor number, manufacturer's number or identification mark has been
             210      replaced; or
             211          (b) a new number assigned by the Motor Vehicle Division has been stamped on the
             212      vehicle.
             213          (7) A violation of this section is a class C misdemeanor.


             214          Section 3. Section 53-3-106 is amended to read:
             215           53-3-106. Disposition of revenues under this chapter -- Restricted account created
             216      -- Uses as provided by appropriation -- Nonlapsing.
             217          (1) There is created within the Transportation Fund a restricted account known as the
             218      "Department of Public Safety Restricted Account."
             219          (2) The account consists of monies generated from the following revenue sources:
             220          (a) all monies received under this chapter;
             221          (b) administrative fees received according to the fee schedule authorized under this
             222      chapter and Section 63J-1-504 ; and
             223          (c) any appropriations made to the account by the Legislature.
             224          (3) (a) The account shall earn interest.
             225          (b) All interest earned on account monies shall be deposited in the account.
             226          (4) The expenses of the department in carrying out this chapter shall be provided for by
             227      legislative appropriation from this account.
             228          (5) The amount in excess of $45 of the fees collected under Subsection 53-3-105 (24)
             229      shall be appropriated by the Legislature from this account to the department to implement the
             230      provisions of Section 53-1-117 , except that of the amount in excess of $45, $40 shall be
             231      deposited in the State Laboratory Drug Testing Account created in Section 26-1-34 .
             232          (6) All monies received under Subsection 41-6a-1406 (6)[(b)](c)(ii) shall be
             233      appropriated by the Legislature from this account to the department to implement the
             234      provisions of Section 53-1-117 .
             235          (7) Beginning in fiscal year 2009-10, the Legislature shall appropriate $100,000
             236      annually from the account to the state medical examiner appointed under Section 26-4-4 for
             237      use in carrying out duties related to highway crash deaths under Subsection 26-4-7 (1).
             238          (8) Appropriations to the department from the account are nonlapsing.
             239          Section 4. Effective date.
             240          This bill takes effect on October 1, 2010.





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    as of 1-28-10 2:01 PM


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