Source: https://www.dui-illinois-attorney.com/Articles/Illinois-DUI-Vehicle-Forfeiture-You-Can-Lose-Your-Car-to-the-Man-Who-Wears-the-Star.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 12:14:07+00:00

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This amendment expands the number of vehicles potentially subject to seizure and forfeiture under sections 36-1 and 36-2 exponentially, because arrests for driving while the license was suspended (based on a statutory summary suspension) or revoked (based on a previous DUI conviction) are common.
The process begins with an arrest for an offense included within section 36-1 (discussed above) and the subsequent seizure of the vehicle by the arresting police department. The vehicle must be delivered "forthwith"10 to the to the sheriff of the county in where the seizure occurred. Black's Law Dictionary defines "forthwith" as "immediately; without delay; directly; within a reasonable time under the circumstances of the case."11 No reported case specifically addresses the definition of "forthwith" as used in section 36-1. However, in Crosby v. City of Chicago,12 the First District Appellate Court held that the retention of a vehicle by the Chicago Police for 14 months without ever delivering it to the Sheriff of Cook County to be unlawful, thus entitling the owner to nominal damages.
However, this "hardship" provision only applies to vehicles seized for felony DUI violations and for driving with a suspended or revoked license as set forth in subsection (g) of Section 6-303 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.16 In addition, "hardship" relief is only available once per family.17 Therefore, if someone commits a second or subsequent violation in a vehicle previously returned under the hardship provision, relief is unavailable.18 Likewise, if someone who previously had a vehicle seized and then returned to a spouse on a hardship application commits a subsequent violation in another vehicle owned by the arrestee, the affected spouse would be unable to attempt to reclaim the vehicle.19 The statute does not specify the manner by which an affected spouse demonstrates hardship. One suggestion is to send a letter detailing the families' situation to both the Assistant State's Attorney in charge of asset forfeiture and to the appropriate supervisory personnel at the Sheriff's Department.
Once the State's Attorney receives notice of a seizure, he must "forthwith" file a complaint for forfeiture in the circuit court of venue unless other mitigating circumstances warrant remission of the forfeiture.20 The complaint must be served on the same persons and in the same manner as the notice of seizure required pursuant to Section 36-1.21 The recipients have 20 days from the date of mailing of the complaint to file a verified answer.22 Lienholders of seized vehicles typically file an answer setting forth their security interest along with averments that they had no knowledge the vehicle would be used to commit any offense. Lienholders also routinely file a petition seeking return of the vehicle pursuant to their security interest.
If the case proceeds to a hearing, the most frequently litigated issues appear to be: (1) the ownership of the vehicle and the owner's participation in or knowledge of the offense; and (2) whether the vehicle was used in the commission of the offense. These are factual inquiries decided by the court on a case-by-case basis.
In People v. 1991 Chevrolet Camaro, the court established a detailed analysis of how to determine an ownership interest in a seized vehicle. 25 In that case, a father and son purchased a vehicle with jointly owned funds. Contemporaneously, the father purchased insurance, listing himself and his wife as primary drivers on the application, but also listing the son as an insured. The title initially listed only the son, but once the father realized the omission, he immediately had it corrected to include both himself and his son. The family's intention was to share the vehicle. The son also owned another vehicle. One day after the vehicle was purchased, the son used it to commit a burglary. The son was not arrested until two months later. Four months after his arrest, a forfeiture complaint was filed, claiming that the vehicle was owned by the son though titled in the father's name as well. The father filed an answer asserting his ownership interests and denying any knowledge, until his son's arrest, that the vehicle was used in commission of a burglary.
At the hearing, the father testified that in the time period between the car's purchase and the filing of the complaint, his wife drove the car whenever she wanted. The father acknowledged driving the car only four times, as he usually drove his own truck. The father also testified that he had no knowledge the car would be used in a burglary, a point conceded by the State. A police officer testified that during his interrogation, the son claimed that he was the sole driver; that the vehicle was titled in his father's name for insurance purposes only; and that items found in the vehicle belonged to him. The son testified on rebuttal that these statements were made in an attempt to protect his father who knew nothing about the burglary. The trial court denied the request for forfeiture and the State appealed, claiming the father's interest was that of a bare titleholder and the son was the true owner because he exercised dominion and control over the vehicle.
2. Was the vehicle "used" in the commission of the offense?
1 In addition to seizures under 720 ILCS 5/36-1, vehicles and other items can also be seized and subjected to forfeiture for violations of, inter alia, the Cannabis Control Act, see 720 ILCS 550/12, and the Controlled Substances Act, see 720 ILCS 570/505. Numerous constitutional challenges have been raised to various aspects of Illinois' seizure and forfeiture statutes. Due to space limitations, constitutional issues will not be addressed in this article.
7 625 ILCS 5/11-501 (c-1) (1); (c-1) (2); (c-1) (3); (d) (1) (A), and (d) (1) (C).
10720 ILCS 5/36-1. But see People v. Adams, 318 Ill. App. 3d 539, 742 N.E.2d 1256 (2nd Dist. 2001) (holding that the failure to physically deliver the vehicle to the sheriff was insufficient to overturn the trial court's forfeiture order, where the police immediately notified the sheriff of the seizure and the sheriff then immediately notified the owner as required by section 36-1). In Adams, the Appellate Court found that a constructive delivery had occurred and declined to place a literal interpretation on the statute that would achieve an absurd result.
11 Black's Law Dictionary (6th ed. 1990).
12 11 Ill. App. 3d 635, 298 N.E.2d 719 (1st Dist. 1973).
16 Id. A State's Attorney also has the discretion to direct the sheriff to release a seized vehicle to an owner who demonstrates that an alleged violation occurred without his knowledge or intent or for other appropriate mitigating circumstances pursuant to 5/36-2(a) and this section is apparently not limited to seizures subsequent to arrests for felony DUIs or violations of 625 ILCS 5/6-303(g). In Adams, the Second District declined to consider a section 5/36-1 hardship request to release a vehicle to a spouse because it was seized in connection with an offense (burglary) not listed therein. Adams, 318 Ill. App. 3d at 541, 742 N.E.2d at 1257.
20 720 ILCS 5/36-2. In People ex rel Ward v. 1963 Cadillac, 38 Ill. 2d. 344, 231 N.E.2d 445 (1967), an automobile was seized following its owner's arrest on gambling charges, but a complaint for its forfeiture was not filed until three and a half months later. The court held that the proceedings were untimely and would be dismissed. But see People v. Glenn, 142 Ill. App. 3d 1108, 492 N.E. 2d 957 (5th Dist. 1986) (holding that a 12 month delay between the filing of a complaint and the initiation of the proceedings did not deny due process, despite the fact that the State was required to file a forfeiture complaint "forthwith," as there is no statutory requirement for a speedy judicial determination and the speedy trial provisions of the criminal code are inapplicable to a civil forfeiture).
23 See e.g., People v. 1991 Chevrolet Camaro, 251 Ill. App. 3d 382, 620 N.E.2d 563 (2nd Dist 1993); People v. Dugan, 125 Ill. App. 3d 820, 466 N.E.2d 687 (2nd Dist. 1984).
24 People ex rel Hanrahan v. One 1965 Oldsmobile, 52 Ill. 2d 37, 284 N.E.2d 646 (1972); People v. Dugan, 125 Ill. App. 3d 820, 466 N.E.2d 687 (2nd Dist. 1984).
25 251 Ill. App. 3d 382, 620 N.E.2d 563 (2nd Dist. 1993).
26 Id. at 388, 620 N.E.2d at 568.
27 Id. at 388-89, 620 N.E.2d at 568.
29 125 Ill. App. 3d 820, 466 N.E.2d 687 (2nd Dist. 1984).
30 Id. at 830-31, 466 N.E.2d at 694-95.
31 Id. at 695, 466 N.E.2d at 831.
32 318 Ill. App. 3d 539, 742 N.E.2d 1256 (2nd Dist. 2001).
33 Id. at 544, 742 N.E.2d at 1260.
34 Id. at 544, 742 N.E.2d at 1261.
35 242 Ill. App. 3d 411, 610 N.E. 2d 142 (3rd Dist. 1993).
36 195 Ill. App. 3d 711, 553 N.E.2d 49 (1st Dist. 1990).
37 128 Ill. App. 3d 128, 470 N. E.2d 46 (3rd Dist. 1984).
38 Id. at 130, 470 N.E.2d at 47.
39 89 Ill. App. 3d 148, 149-50, 411 N.E.2d 592, 593 (3rd Dist. 1980).
40 625 ILCS 5/6-303 (g).
41 1991 Chevrolet Camaro, 251 Ill. App. 3d at 388, 620 N.E.2d at 567.
42 720 ILCS 5/36-1 & 2.

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