Public Act 495 of 2004

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• Introduced by Rep. James Koetje (R) on February 13, 2003, to establish procedures for towing vehicles abandoned on private property. The property owner would be required to place a sticker on the car with the time and his or her name, address, and phone number. If the vehicle were not removed within 48 hours, the property owner could then have it towed or scrapped at the vehicle owner's expense.
  • Referred to the House Government Operations Committee on February 13, 2003.
  • Reported in the House on May 26, 2004, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on August 4, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not require a person to attach a written notice to an abandoned vehicle before having it towed, requires the Secretary of State to maintain a registry of abandoned vehicles on its website, requires the owner (or lender) of an abandoned vehicle to pay a $150 fee, plus towing and storage costs, to get an abandoned vehicle released, and revises other details related to notification, custody and sale procedures. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on August 4, 2004.
  • Substitute offered by Rep. James Koetje (R) on August 4, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on August 4, 2004.
• Passed 100 to 2 in the House on August 4, 2004, to establish streamlined procedures for the towing, owner notification, custody, and sale of vehicles abandoned on public or private property, and establish new standards for what constitutes an abandoned vehicle. Among other things the bill would require the owner of an abandoned vehicle to pay a $150 fee to retrieve it, plus towing and storage costs; and it would require the Secretary of State to maintain a registry of abandoned vehicles on its website.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on September 8, 2004.
  • Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on September 8, 2004.
    • Reported in the Senate on October 7, 2004, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on December 8, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that mandates restrictive facility regulations on small auto dealers, including a prohibition on home-based dealerships. The substitute also adds certain commercial motor vehicle and hazardous material transport license provisions required by the USA Patriot Act, and revises the abondoned car procedures and penalties of the original bill. See Senate-passed bill for details. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on December 8, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Jud Gilbert (R) on December 9, 2004, to clarify a references in the bill to other statutes. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on December 9, 2004.
• Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on December 9, 2004, to establish procedures for towing vehicles abandoned on public or private property. The bill establishes new standards for what constitutes an abandoned vehicle, and streamlines procedures related to the towing, owner notification, custody, and sale of such vehicles. Among other things the bill would require the owner of an abandoned vehicle to pay a $50 civil fine, impose a $40 retrieval fee to any towing and storage fees, and require the Secretary of State to maintain a registry of abandoned vehicles on its website. The bill would also establishe regulations for auto dealer "tent sales," and applies the same regulations and licensure requirements that apply to Michigan dealers to out-of-state dealers holding such an event. Finally, it revises procedures and timelines related to certain commercial motor vehicle and hazardous material transport licenses required by the USA Patriot Act.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on December 9, 2004.
  • Moved to reconsider by Sen. Beverly Hammerstrom (R) on December 9, 2004.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Jud Gilbert (R) on December 9, 2004, to clarify a references in the bill to other statutes. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on December 9, 2004.
• Passed 34 to 1 in the Senate on December 9, 2004, to adopt a version that clarifies several references in the bill to other statutes, and which among other things essentially bans home-based used car dealers.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on December 9, 2004.
• Passed 93 to 1 in the House on December 9, 2004, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, which also adds procedures and timelines related to certain commercial motor vehicle and hazardous material transport licenses required by the USA Patriot Act, and which essentially bans home-based used car dealerships.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on December 27, 2004.