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S.B. 50

             1     

MOTOR VEHICLE IMPOUNDMENT AMENDMENTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Michael G. Waddoups

             5     
House Sponsor: Johnny Anderson

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Traffic Code by amending provisions relating to the seizure and
             10      impoundment of a vehicle.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    requires a peace officer to seize and impound a vehicle if the peace officer arrests,
             14      cites, or refers for administrative action the operator of the vehicle for driving the
             15      motor vehicle while the operator's license is denied, suspended, revoked, or
             16      disqualified for violating certain drug or alcohol-related offenses with exception;
             17      and
             18          .    makes technical changes.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          41-6a-527, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 268
             26     
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             28          Section 1. Section 41-6a-527 is amended to read:
             29           41-6a-527. Seizure and impoundment of vehicles by peace officers -- Impound
             30      requirements -- Removal of vehicle by owner -- Forfeiture.
             31          (1) If a peace officer arrests, cites, or refers for administrative action the operator of a
             32      vehicle for violating Section 41-6a-502 , 41-6a-517 , 41-6a-518.2 , 41-6a-520 , 41-6a-530 ,
             33      41-6a-606 , 53-3-231 , 53-3-232 , Subsection 53-3-227 (3), or a local ordinance similar to Section
             34      41-6a-502 which complies with Subsection 41-6a-510 (1), the peace officer shall seize and
             35      impound the vehicle in accordance with Section 41-6a-1406 , except as provided under
             36      Subsection (2).
             37          (2) If a registered owner of the vehicle, other than the operator, is present at the time of
             38      arrest, the peace officer may release the vehicle to that registered owner, but only if:
             39          (a) the registered owner:
             40          (i) requests to remove the vehicle from the scene; and
             41          (ii) presents to the peace officer sufficient identification to prove ownership of the
             42      vehicle or motorboat;
             43          (b) the registered owner identifies a driver with a valid operator's license who:
             44          (i) complies with all restrictions of his operator's license; and
             45          (ii) would not, in the judgment of the officer, be in violation of Section 41-6a-502 ,
             46      41-6a-517 , 41-6a-518.2 , 41-6a-520 , 41-6a-530 , 53-3-231 , 53-3-232 , or a local ordinance
             47      similar to Section 41-6a-502 which complies with Subsection 41-6a-510 (1) if permitted to
             48      operate the vehicle; and
             49          (c) the vehicle itself is legally operable.
             50          (3) If necessary for transportation of a motorboat for impoundment under this section,
             51      the motorboat's trailer may be used to transport the motorboat.
             52          (4) A motor vehicle is subject to criminal or civil forfeiture under the procedures and
             53      substantive protections established in Title 24, Chapter 1, Utah Uniform Forfeiture Procedures
             54      Act, upon a finding by the court that:
             55          (a) the motor vehicle was used in a violation of Section 41-6a-502 , 41-6a-517 , a local
             56      ordinance which complies with the requirements of Subsection 41-6a-510 (1), Subsection
             57      58-37-8 (2)(g), or Section 76-5-207 ;
             58          (b) the operator of the vehicle has previously been convicted of a violation committed


             59      after May 12, 2009, of:
             60          (i) a felony driving under the influence violation under Section 41-6a-502 ;
             61          (ii) a felony violation of Subsection 58-37-8 (2)(g); or
             62          (iii) automobile homicide under Section 76-5-207 ;
             63          (c) the operator of the vehicle was driving on a denied, suspended, revoked, or
             64      disqualified license; and
             65          (d) (i) the denial, suspension, revocation, or disqualification under Subsection (4)(c)
             66      was imposed because of a violation of:
             67          (A) Section 41-6a-502 ;
             68          (B) Section 41-6a-517 ;
             69          (C) a local ordinance which complies with the requirements of Subsection
             70      41-6a-510 (1);
             71          (D) Section 41-6a-520 ;
             72          (E) Subsection 58-37-8 (2)(g);
             73          (F) Section 76-5-207 ; or
             74          (G) a criminal prohibition that the person was charged with violating as a result of a
             75      plea bargain after having been originally charged with violating one or more of the sections or
             76      ordinances described in Subsections (4)(d)(i)(A) through (F); or
             77          (ii) (A) the denial, suspension, revocation, or disqualification described in Subsection
             78      (4)(c) is an extension imposed under Subsection 53-3-220 (2) of a denial, suspension,
             79      revocation, or disqualification; and
             80          (B) the original denial, suspension, revocation, or disqualification was imposed
             81      because of a violation described in Subsection (4)(d)(i)(A) through (G).
             82          Section 2. Effective date.
             83          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
             84      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             85      Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
             86      the date of veto override.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-30-12 1:04 PM


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