07 LC 28
3209
Senate
Bill 251
By:
Senator Thompson of the 5th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as
to require the establishment by the Department of Revenue of an Internet website
for stolen and towed motor vehicles; to require that each tow truck or wrecker
operator shall post the vehicle identification numbers and license plate numbers
of certain motor vehicles that are towed by such operator on such website within
certain periods of time; to provide for penalties for failing to post such
information; to provide for certain required features of such website; to
require law enforcement agencies in this state to post the vehicle
identification numbers and license plate numbers of stolen vehicles on such
website; to provide for enforcement by the Department of Revenue; to provide for
the promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
1 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles, is amended by adding a new
Code Section 40-2-11 to read as follows:
"40-2-11.
(a)
The Department of Revenue shall establish an Internet website for the purpose of
posting the vehicle identification numbers and license plate numbers of motor
vehicles that are towed without the knowledge or consent of the owner or
operator of such vehicle and vehicles that have been reported as stolen to law
enforcement authorities in this state. Such website shall display the vehicle
identification number and license plate number of each such vehicle that was
towed without the knowledge or consent of the owner or operator of such vehicle
along with a notation of the location where such vehicle is stored and a contact
number for such storage facility. Such website shall also display the vehicle
identification number and license plate number of each vehicle that has been
reported as being stolen to law enforcement authorities in this state with a
notation that such vehicle has been reported as being stolen. Such website
shall be designed in a manner and contain other such criteria as may be
determined by the Department of Revenue to make such website useful for the
public.
(b)
Each tow truck and wrecker operator in this state shall, within 12 hours of
towing a motor vehicle without the knowledge or consent of the owner or operator
of such motor vehicle, enter or cause to be posted on the website established
under subsection (a) of this Code section the vehicle identification number and
license plate number of such vehicle and a notation of the location where such
vehicle is stored and a contact number for such storage facility.
(c)
Each tow truck or wrecker operator who fails timely to post or cause to be
posted the information required by subsection (b) of this Code section shall be
subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000.00 for each such violation.
In addition, if a tow truck or wrecker operator fails timely to post the
information required by subsection (b) of this Code section, such tow truck or
wrecker operator shall not be entitled to charge for the towing of such motor
vehicle nor any associated storage charges for such motor vehicle. The
provisions of this subsection shall be enforced by the Department of
Revenue.
(d)
Each law enforcement agency in this state receiving a report of a stolen motor
vehicle shall post or cause to be posted on the website established under
subsection (a) of this Code section the vehicle identification numbers and
license plate numbers of such motor vehicle.
(e)
Any person who, without authorization, tampers with such website or in any
manner interferes with such website shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high
and aggravated nature.
(f)
The Department of Revenue shall be authorized to promulgate such rules and
regulations as it deems necessary to implement the provisions of this Code
section."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.