CHAPTER 400
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 291
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CIVIL ENFORCEMENT OF OUTSTANDING TOLL VIOLATIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
Section 1. Amend Section 4129, Chapter 41, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by adding a new subsection (e), to read as follows:
“(e) Enhanced civil enforcement authority. If a vehicle owner has been issued advisory and payment requests for nonpayment of tolls under subsection (c) hereof, and the combined total of outstanding and unpaid tolls, applicable administrative fees and associated penalties exceeds $1,000, the vehicle shall be subject to a civil administrative stop pursuant to Chapter 8 of this title, and the vehicle owner shall be subject to enhanced civil enforcement, as follows:
(1) Such vehicle shall be immobilized in such manner as to prevent its operation, or removed to an official pound by authority of any police officer of this State, a county or municipality therein, or the Delaware River and Bay Authority. Any vehicle so immobilized or impounded shall not be released to its lawful owner until all unpaid tolls and applicable administrative fees issued to such owner have been discharged by payment in full, together with payment for the costs of immobilizing, releasing, and storing such vehicle. The owner shall sign a receipt for such vehicle. Payment for any such towing shall be in accordance with the towing costs outlined in the current agreement between police agency and the towing operator. If the vehicle is a tractor-trailer combination, the trailer may be released to an authorized agent if the tractor is immobilized pursuant to this section.
(2) In any case involving immobilization of a vehicle pursuant to this section, the police officer shall place on such vehicle, in a conspicuous manner, notice sufficient to warn any individual that such vehicle has been immobilized and that any attempt to move such vehicle might result in damage to such vehicle.
(3) Any vehicle remaining immobilized and not released for 48 hours may be towed and impounded at the direction of a police officer.”