Senate Bill 251

Chair's Name: Tom Rice

Committee: Motor Vehicles

Senate Sponsor: Curt Thompson

SB 251 requires the Department of Revenue to establish a website to post vehicle identification numbers and license plate numbers of vehicles which have been towed without the knowledge or consent of the owner or operator and vehicles that have been reported as stolen by law enforcement. The remainder of the bill sets out how this website will be maintained.

This bill received a Do Pass recommendation from the Motor Vehicles Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Rice’s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This bill was brought to make it easier for law enforcement and motor vehicle lien holders to track stolen or towed motor vehicles.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

Currently many insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, and lien holders waste a lot of time trying to work a stolen vehicle claim when it turns out that vehicle had been towed.  By creating this website, the above mentioned could simply plug in a tag number and V.I.N. number and would immediately see if that were the case.