HB 1111 -- Motor Vehicles

Sponsor:  Crawford

This bill requires that after January 1, 2005, any transferor of
an interest in a motor vehicle must notify the Department of
Revenue within 10 days of the date of transfer.   The department
must notify the transferee to apply for title if the department
does not receive an application for title within 60 days of the
notice form.  Knowingly submitting false information about the
transfer of a vehicle will be a class A misdemeanor.  The bill
spells out the requirements of the notice.

Wreckers, tow trucks, rollbacks, and vehicles containing
emergency cleanup equipment will be considered emergency vehicles
after they arrive at the scene of an accident or cleanup
location.

Beginning January 1, 2005, minimum standards will be established
for all towing companies including:

(1)  Maintaining a verifiable commercial address;

(2)  Maintaining a secure vehicle storage location or facility;

(3)  Being available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and
maintaining an answering service by a person able to respond to a
tow request;

(4)  Maintaining a valid insurance policy of at least $1 million
per incident;

(5)  Providing workers' compensation insurance for all employees;
and

(6)  Maintaining current motor vehicle registrations on all of
the towing fleet.

Municipalities and counties may adopt by ordinance standards more
stringent than state requirements.

The bill allows the removal of abandoned vehicles on the right-
of-way of any interstate highway or freeway within two hours if a
law enforcement officer determines the abandoned property is a
serious hazard to motorists.

The bill also modifies the current criminal statute on abandoning
a motor vehicle.  The last owner of record of a motor vehicle
will be deemed prima facie to have been the owner of the motor
vehicle at the time of abandonment.  The last owner of record
will not be deemed to have been the owner of the motor vehicle or
to have been the person who abandoned the vehicle if the person
has filed notice with the Department of Revenue that the person's
interest in the motor vehicle has been transferred.  The
registered owner will not be subject to penalties if the motor
vehicle was in the care, custody, or control of another person at
the time of the violation.  The owner can submit an affidavit
naming the person who was in control of the car.  The affidavit
will raise a rebuttable presumption that the named person was in
control of the vehicle, and the court can then terminate the
prosecution.  If the vehicle is alleged to have been stolen, the
owner must submit a police report.  Any person convicted of
abandoning a motor vehicle will be liable for all towing and
storage charges, and the liability will remain even if the motor
vehicle is sold pursuant to a towing lien.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am