House Bill 144

Chair's Name: Roger Williams

Committee: Regulated Industries

House Sponsor: Bobby Reese

HB 144 relocates code provisions regarding the parking of used cars for the purposes of advertising/selling from Title 43 (Professions & Businesses) to Title 40 (Motor Vehicles). This will allow law enforcement to easily access the law when enforcement questions arise. For clarification purposes, language was also added to exempt vehicles parked in parking lots while the owner is there on business (i.e. shopping, etc.).

The committee substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Regulated Industries Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Williams� opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

Currently the law enforcement officers, particularly cruisers, can not access provisions concerning the illegal sale, advertising and parking of used motor vehicles contained in Title 43. This legislation relocates these provisions to Title 40 to make it accessible by the police officers from their mobile computers.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

This change was requested by the law enforcement officers.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Reduces the Tax Burden on our Citizens:

Eliminates the need to purchase a new system or new computers. 

Senate Changes:

The Senate added language in Title 40 to eliminate the penalty for starting a vehicle and leaving it running unattended. Representative Reese will likely move to agree.