FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.1314
102NDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVEWINDHAM.
2645H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsection304.155,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofonenewsectionrelatingto
motorvehiclesabandonedbypersonsunderarrest.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Section304.155,RSMo,isrepealedandonenewsectionenactedinlieu
2thereof,tobeknownassection304.155,toreadasfollows:
304.155.1.Anylawenforcementofficerwithintheofficer'sjurisdiction,oran
2officerofagovernmentagencywherethatagency'srealpropertyisconcerned,mayauthorize
3atowingcompanytoremovetoaplaceofsafety:
4 (1)Anyabandonedpropertyontheright-of-wayof:
5 (a)Anyinterstatehighwayorfreewayinanurbanizedarea,leftunattendedforten
6hours,orimmediatelyifalawenforcementofficerdeterminesthattheabandonedpropertyis
7aserioushazardtoothermotorists,providedthatcommercialmotorvehiclesnothauling
8materialsdesignatedashazardousunder49U.S.C.5103(a)mayonlyberemovedunderthis
9subdivisiontoaplaceofsafetyuntiltheownerorowner'srepresentativehashadareasonable
10opportunitytocontactatowingcompanyofchoice;
11 (b)Anyinterstatehighwayorfreewayoutsideofanurbanizedarea,leftunattended
12fortwenty-fourhours,orafterfourhoursifalawenforcementofficerdeterminesthatthe
13abandonedpropertyisaserioushazardtoothermotorists,providedthatcommercialmotor
14vehiclesnothaulingmaterialsdesignatedashazardousunder49U.S.C.5103(a)mayonlybe
15removedunderthissubdivisiontoaplaceofsafetyuntiltheownerorowner'srepresentative
16hashadareasonableopportunitytocontactatowingcompanyofchoice;
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 17 (c)Anystatehighwayotherthananinterstatehighwayorfreewayinanurbanized
18area,leftunattendedformorethantenhours;or
19 (d)Anystatehighwayotherthananinterstatehighwayorfreewayoutsideofan
20urbanizedarea,leftunattendedformorethantwenty-fourhours;providedthatcommercial
21motorvehiclesnothaulingwastedesignatedashazardousunder49U.S.C.5103(a)mayonly
22beremovedunderthissubdivisiontoaplaceofsafetyuntiltheownerorowner's
23representativehashadareasonableopportunitytocontactatowingcompanyofchoice;
24 (2)Anyunattendedabandonedpropertyillegallyleftstandinguponanyhighwayor
25bridgeiftheabandonedpropertyisleftinapositionorundersuchcircumstancesasto
26obstructthenormalmovementoftrafficwherethereisnoreasonableindicationthatthe
27personincontrolofthepropertyisarrangingforitsimmediatecontrolorremoval;
28 (3)Anyabandonedpropertywhichhasbeenabandonedundersection577.080;
29 (4)Anyabandonedpropertywhichhasbeenreportedasstolenortakenwithout
30consentoftheowner;
31 (5)Anyabandonedpropertyforwhichthepersonoperatingsuchpropertyisarrested
32foranallegedoffenseforwhichtheofficertakesthepersonintocustodyandwheresuch
33personisunabletoarrangefortheproperty's[timely] removalwithinforty-eighthoursof
34suchperson'sarrest;
35 (6)Anyabandonedpropertywhichduetoanyotherstatelaworlocalordinanceis
36subjecttotowingbecauseoftheowner'soutstandingtrafficorparkingviolations;
37 (7)Anyabandonedpropertyleftunattendedinviolationofastatelaworlocal
38ordinancewheresignshavebeenpostedgivingnoticeofthelaworwheretheviolationcauses
39asafetyhazard;
40 (8)Anyabandonedpropertyillegallyleftstandingonthewatersofthisstateas
41definedinsection306.010wheretheabandonedpropertyisobstructingthenormalmovement
42oftraffic,orwheretheabandonedpropertyhasbeenunattendedformorethantenhoursoris
43floatinglooseonthewater;or
44 (9)Anyabandonedpropertyforwhichthepersonoperatingsuchpropertyorvehicle
45eludesarrestforanallegedoffenseforwhichtheofficerwouldhavetakentheoffenderinto
46custody.
47 2.Thedepartmentoftransportationoranylawenforcementofficerwithinthe
48officer'sjurisdictionmayimmediatelyremoveanyabandoned,unattended,wrecked,burned
49orpartiallydismantledproperty,spilledcargoorotherpersonalpropertyfromtheright-of-
50wayofanyinterstatehighway,freeway,orstatehighwayiftheabandonedproperty,cargoor
51personalpropertyiscreatingatraffichazardbecauseofitspositioninrelationtotheinterstate
52highway,freeway,orstatehighway.Intheeventthepropertycreatingatraffichazardisa
53commercialmotorvehicle,asdefinedinsection302.700,thedepartment'sauthorityunder
HB1314 2 54thissubsectionshallbelimitedtoauthorizingatowingcompanytoremovethecommercial
55motorvehicletoaplaceofsafety,exceptthattheownerofthecommercialmotorvehicleor
56theowner'sdesignatedrepresentativeshallhaveareasonableopportunitytocontactatowing
57companyofchoice.Theprovisionsofthissubsectionshallnotapplytovehiclestransporting
58anymaterialwhichhasbeendesignatedashazardousunderSection5103(a)ofTitle49,
59U.S.C.
60 3.Anylawenforcementagencyauthorizingatowpursuanttothissectioninwhich
61theabandonedpropertyismovedfromtheimmediatevicinityshallcompleteacrimeinquiry
62andinspectionreport.Anystateorfederalgovernmentagencyotherthanalawenforcement
63agencyauthorizingatowpursuanttothissectioninwhichtheabandonedpropertyismoved
64awayfromtheimmediatevicinityinwhichitwasabandonedshallreportthetowingtothe
65statehighwaypatrolorwaterpatrolwithintwohoursofthetowalongwithacrimeinquiry
66andinspectionreportasrequiredinthissection.Anylocalgovernmentagency,otherthana
67lawenforcementagency,authorizingatowpursuanttothissectionwherepropertyistowed
68awayfromtheimmediatevicinityshallreportthetowtothelocallawenforcementagency
69withintwohoursalongwithacrimeinquiryandinspectionreport.
70 4.Neitherthelawenforcementofficer,governmentagencyofficialnoranyone
71havingcustodyofabandonedpropertyunderhisdirectionshallbeliableforanydamageto
72suchabandonedpropertyoccasionedbyaremovalauthorizedbythissectionorbyordinance
73ofacountyormunicipalitylicensingandregulatingthesaleofabandonedpropertybythe
74municipality,otherthandamagesoccasionedbynegligenceorbywillfulorwantonactsor
75omissions.
76 5.Theownerofabandonedpropertyremovedasprovidedinthissectionorinsection
77304.157shallberesponsibleforpaymentofallreasonablechargesfortowingandstorageof
78suchabandonedpropertyasprovidedinsection304.158.
79 6.Uponthetowingofanyabandonedpropertypursuanttothissectionorunder
80authorityofalawenforcementofficerorlocalgovernmentagencypursuanttosection
81304.157,thelawenforcementagencythatauthorizedsuchtowingorwasproperlynotifiedby
82anothergovernmentagencyofsuchtowingshallpromptlymakeaninquirywiththenational
83crimeinformationcenterandanystatewideMissourilawenforcementcomputersystemto
84determineiftheabandonedpropertyhasbeenreportedasstolenandshallenterthe
85informationpertainingtothetowedpropertyintothestatewidelawenforcementcomputer
86system.Iftheabandonedpropertyisnotclaimedwithintenworkingdaysofthetowing,the
87towerwhohasonlineaccesstothedepartmentofrevenue'srecordsshallmakeaninquiryto
88determinetheabandonedpropertyownerandlienholder,ifany,ofrecord.Intheeventthat
89therecordsofthedepartmentofrevenuefailtodisclosethenameoftheownerorany
90lienholderofrecord,thetowershallcomplywiththerequirementsofsubsection3ofsection
HB1314 3 91304.156.Ifthetowerdoesnothaveonlineaccess,thelawenforcementagencyshallsubmita
92crimeinquiryandinspectionreporttothedirectorofrevenue.Atowingcompanythatdoes
93nothaveonlineaccesstothedepartment'srecordsandthatisinpossessionofabandoned
94propertyaftertenworkingdaysshallreportsuchfacttothelawenforcementagencywith
95whichthecrimeinquiryandinspectionreportwasfiled.Thecrimeinquiryandinspection
96reportshallbedesignedbythedirectorofrevenueandshallincludethefollowing:
97 (1)Theyear,model,makeandpropertyidentificationnumberofthepropertyandthe
98ownerandanylienholders,ifknown;
99 (2)Adescriptionofanydamagetothepropertynotedbytheofficerauthorizingthe
100tow;
101 (3)Thelicenseplateorregistrationnumberandthestateofissuance,ifavailable;
102 (4)Thestoragelocationofthetowedproperty;
103 (5)Thename,telephonenumberandaddressofthetowingcompany;
104 (6)Thedate,placeandreasonforthetowingoftheabandonedproperty;
105 (7)Thedateoftheinquiryofthenationalcrimeinformationcenter,anystatewide
106Missourilawenforcementcomputersystemandanyothersimilarsystemwhichhastitling
107andregistrationinformationtodetermineiftheabandonedpropertyhadbeenstolen.This
108informationshallbeenteredonlybythelawenforcementagencymakingtheinquiry;
109 (8)Thesignatureandprintednameoftheofficerauthorizingthetow;
110 (9)Thenameofthetowingcompany,thesignatureandprintednameofthetowing
111operator,andanindicatordisclosingwhetherthetowerhasonlineaccesstothedepartment's
112records;and
113 (10)Anyadditionalinformationthedirectorofrevenuedeemsappropriate.
114 7.Onecopyofthecrimeinquiryandinspectionreportshallremainwiththeagency
115whichauthorizedthetow.Onecopyshallbeprovidedtoandretainedbythestoragefacility
116andonecopyshallberetainedbythetowingfacilityinanaccessibleformatinthebusiness
117recordsforaperiodofthreeyearsfromthedateofthetoworremoval.
118 8.Theownerofsuchabandonedproperty,ortheholderofavalidsecurityinterestof
119record,mayreclaimitfromthetowingcompanyuponproofofownershiporvalidsecurity
120interestofrecordandpaymentofallreasonablechargesforthetowingandstorageofthe
121abandonedproperty.
122 9.Anypersonwhoremovesabandonedpropertyatthedirectionofalawenforcement
123officeroranofficerofagovernmentagencywherethatagency'srealpropertyisconcernedas
124providedinthissectionshallhavealienforallreasonablechargesforthetowingandstorage
125oftheabandonedpropertyuntilpossessionoftheabandonedpropertyisvoluntarily
126relinquishedtotheowneroftheabandonedpropertyortotheholderofavalidsecurity
127interestofrecord.Anypersonalpropertywithintheabandonedpropertyneednotbereleased
HB1314 4 128totheownerthereofuntilthereasonableoragreedchargesforsuchrecovery,transportation
129orsafekeepinghavebeenpaidorsatisfactoryarrangementsforpaymenthavebeenmade,
130exceptthatanymedicationprescribedbyaphysicianshallbereleasedtotheownerthereof
131uponrequest.Thecompanyholdingorstoringtheabandonedpropertyshalleitherreleasethe
132personalpropertytotheowneroftheabandonedpropertyorallowtheownertoinspectthe
133propertyandprovideanitemizedreceiptforthecontents.Thecompanyholdingorstoring
134thepropertyshallbestrictlyliablefortheconditionandsafereturnofthepersonalproperty.
135Suchlienshallbeenforcedinthemannerprovidedundersection304.156.
136 10.Towingcompaniesshallkeeparecordforthreeyearsonanyabandonedproperty
137towedandnotreclaimedbytheowneroftheabandonedproperty.Suchrecordshallcontain
138informationregardingtheauthorizationtotow,copiesofallcorrespondencewiththe
139departmentofrevenueconcerningtheabandonedproperty,includingcopiesofanyonline
140recordsofthetowingcompanyaccessedandinformationconcerningthefinaldispositionof
141thepossessionoftheabandonedproperty.
142 11.Ifalienholderrepossessesanymotorvehicle,trailer,all-terrainvehicle,outboard
143motororvesselwithouttheknowledgeorcooperationoftheowner,thentherepossessorshall
144notifythelocallawenforcementagencywheretherepossessionoccurredwithintwohoursof
145therepossessionandshallfurtherprovidethelocallawenforcementagencywithany
146additionalinformationtheagencydeemsappropriate.Thelocallawenforcementagency
147shallmakeaninquirywiththenationalcrimeinformationcenterandtheMissouristatewide
148lawenforcementcomputersystemandshallentertherepossessedvehicleintothestatewide
149lawenforcementcomputersystem.
150 12.Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsection301.227,anytowingcompanywhohas
151compliedwiththenotificationprovisionsinsection304.156includingnoticethatany
152propertyremainingunredeemedafterthirtydaysmaybesoldasscrappropertymaythen
153disposeofsuchpropertyasprovidedinthissubsection.Suchsaleshallonlyoccurifatleast
154thirtydayshaspassedsincethedateofsuchnotification,theabandonedpropertyremains
155unredeemedwithnosatisfactoryarrangementsmadewiththetowingcompanyforcontinued
156storage,andtheownerorholderofasecurityagreementhasnotrequestedahearingas
157providedinsection304.156.Thetowingcompanymaydisposeofsuchabandonedproperty
158bysellingthepropertyonabillofsaleasprescribedbythedirectorofrevenuetoascrap
159metaloperatororlicensedsalvagedealerfordestructionpurposesonly.Thetowingcompany
160shallforwardacopyofthebillofsaleprovidedbythescrapmetaloperatororlicensed
161salvagedealertothedirectorofrevenuewithintwoweeksofthedateofsuchsale.The
162towingcompanyshallkeeparecordofeachsuchvehiclesoldfordestructionforthreeyears
163thatshallbeavailableforinspectionbylawenforcementandauthorizeddepartmentof
164revenueofficials.Therecordshallcontaintheyear,make,identificationnumberofthe
HB1314 5 165property,dateofsale,andnameofthepurchasingscrapmetaloperatororlicensedsalvage
166dealerandcopiesofallnotificationsissuedbythetowingcompanyasrequiredinthischapter.
167Scrapmetaloperatorsorlicensedsalvagedealersshallkeeparecordofthepurchaseofsuch
168propertyasprovidedinsection301.227.Scrapmetaloperatorsandlicensedsalvagedealers
169mayobtainajunkcertificateasprovidedinsection301.227onvehiclespurchasedonabillof
170salepursuanttothissection.
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