Representative Boyle introduces rewrite of Idaho abandoned-vehicle statute; committee approves introduction with small edits

Representative Judy Boyle introduced RS 32197, a complete rewrite of Idaho’s abandoned-vehicle statute that the sponsor said has been under development for about four years. The committee voted to introduce the proposal with two sponsor-requested drafting changes.

The rewrite covers procedures for law enforcement and tow operators when dealing with stolen or abandoned vehicles, notification and reclamation timelines, dispute hearings, rate-sheet and storage rules for towers, background checks for towing companies, and a state trust account for certain fees.

Booth-by-booth summary: Boyle told the committee the bill preserves a common 48-hour period for officers to attempt owner contact and requires a registered letter if contact cannot be made. “If that vehicle is not claimed within 30 days, then it's treated as an abandoned vehicle,” Boyle said. The bill distinguishes ordinary abandoned-vehicle removals from “extraordinary circumstances” such as an arrest or an accident and sets out different notification and removal rules for private property.

RS 32197 would require the Idaho State Police (ISP) to maintain an authorized towing list with background checks for tow companies and their employees; local governments would also keep their own authorized lists. The draft sets a 60-day maximum for storage and requires tow companies to provide rate sheets; it also creates a state trust account for collected fees and specifies how those funds are dispersed. The draft preempts local ordinances that would otherwise create a different regime, the sponsor said.

Representative Palmer moved to introduce RS 32197 with two sponsor-specified changes: removing the words “or any affiliate of a law enforcement agency” on page 2, lines 12–13, and adding the phrase “during reasonable business hours at no additional charge” after the word attorney on page 8, line 42. Palmer told the committee he had the sponsor’s exact wording and handed it to the secretary. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Why it matters: The rewrite aims to resolve long-standing operational problems among law enforcement, towing companies and ITD (the sponsor said) by creating uniform state procedures for removal, notice, claims and dispute hearings. Boyle said the rewrite should not cost taxpayers new money because ITD already has funds to develop the portal referenced in the draft.

What’s next: The committee voted to introduce RS 32197 with the two changes described above. The sponsor and staff indicated additional technical edits may follow at the bill’s hearing stage.