625 ILCS 5/4-205
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 625 - VEHICLES|625 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Vehicle Code.|Chapter 4 - Anti-Theft Laws and Abandoned Vehicles

 (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-205)Sec. 4-205. Record searches.(a) When a law enforcement agency authorizing the impounding of a vehicle  does not know the identity of the registered owner, lienholder or other legally  entitled person, that law enforcement agency will cause the vehicle  registration records of the State of Illinois to be searched by the  Secretary of State for the purpose of obtaining the required ownership  information.(b) The law enforcement agency authorizing the impounding of a vehicle  will cause the stolen motor vehicle files of the Illinois State Police to be  searched by a directed communication to the Illinois State Police for stolen or  wanted information on the vehicle. When the Illinois State Police files are  searched with negative results, the information contained in the  National Crime Information Center (NCIC) files will be searched by the Illinois  State Police. The information determined from these record searches will  be returned to the requesting law enforcement agency for that agency's  use in sending a notification by certified mail to the registered owner,  lienholder and other legally entitled persons advising where the vehicle  is held, requesting a disposition be made and setting forth public sale  information.  Notification shall be sent no later than 10 business days after  the date the law enforcement agency impounds or authorizes the impounding of a  vehicle, provided that if the law enforcement agency is unable to determine the  identity of the registered owner, lienholder or other person legally entitled  to ownership of the impounded vehicle within a 10 business day period after  impoundment, then notification shall be sent no later than 2 days after the  date the identity of the registered owner, lienholder or other person legally  entitled to ownership of the impounded vehicle is determined. Exceptions to a  notification by certified mail to the registered owner, lienholder and other  legally entitled persons are set forth in Section 4-209 of this Code.(c) When ownership information is needed for a  towing service to give notification as required under this Code, the towing  service may cause the vehicle registration records of the State of Illinois to  be searched by the Secretary of State, and in such case, the towing service also shall give notice to all lienholders of record within the time period required for  such other notices.The written request of a towing service, in the form and  containing the information prescribed by the Secretary of State by rule, may be  transmitted to the Secretary of State in person, by U.S.  mail or other delivery service, by facsimile transmission, or by other  means the Secretary of State deems acceptable.The Secretary of State shall provide the required information, or  a statement that the information was not found in the vehicle registration  records of the State, by U.S. mail or other delivery service, facsimile  transmission, as requested by the towing service, or by other means acceptable  to the Secretary of State.(d) The Secretary of State may prescribe standards and procedures for  submission of requests for record searches and replies via computer link.(e) Fees for services provided under this Section shall be in amounts  prescribed by the Secretary of State under Section 3-821.1 of this Code.  Payment may be made by the towing service using cash, any commonly accepted  credit card, or any other means of payment deemed acceptable by the Secretary  of State.  (Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)