Opinion ID: 2531181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Statutory Scheme

Text: ¶ 15 We begin with an overview of the statutory scheme. Section 36-1 of the Criminal Code provides that any vehicle used with the knowledge and consent of the owner in the commission of any of the offenses enumerated may be seized and delivered forthwith to the sheriff of the county where the seizure occurred. 720 ILCS 5/36-1 (West 2006). The offenses listed in the statute that make a vehicle subject to seizure include such crimes as the aggravated DUI and DWLR offenses allegedly committed in the present case. See 720 ILCS 5/36-1 (West 2006). ¶ 16 Once a seized vehicle is delivered to the sheriff, he has 15 days to notify the State's Attorney of the county where the seizure occurred. 720 ILCS 5/36-1 (West 2006). The statute allows the spouse of an owner of a seized vehicle to make a showing that the seized vehicle is the only source of transportation and that the financial hardship to the family would outweigh the benefit to the State from the seizure. 720 ILCS 5/36-1 (West 2006). Return of the vehicle under this hardship provision, however, is discretionary, not mandatory. See 720 ILCS 5/36-1 (West 2006) (the seized vehicle may be returned to the spouse or family member under this provision); see also People v. Reed, 177 Ill.2d 389, 393, 226 Ill.Dec. 801, 686 N.E.2d 584 (1997) (legislature's use of the word may generally indicates a permissive or directory reading, rather than a mandatory one). Likewise, the statute provides for a discretionary return of the vehicle in cases where forfeiture was incurred without willful negligence or without any intention on the part of the owner of the    vehicle    or any person whose right, title or interest is of record   , to violate the law, or finds the existence of such mitigating circumstances as to justify remission of the forfeiture. 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). In such circumstances, the State's Attorney  may cause the sheriff to remit the [vehicle] upon such terms and conditions as the State's Attorney deems reasonable and just. (Emphasis added.) 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). The State's Attorney is to exercise his discretion under the foregoing provision    promptly after notice is given in accordance with Section 36-1. 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). If the State's Attorney exercises his discretion against remitting the vehicle, he is to forthwith bring an action for forfeiture. 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). Once notified of the forfeiture proceeding, the owner of the vehicle or any person whose right, title or interest is of record may within 20 days    file a verified answer    and may appear at the hearing on the action for forfeiture. 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). ¶ 17 The State has the burden at the forfeiture hearing to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the vehicle was used in the commission of an offense described in section 36-1. 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). If the State fails to make this required showing, the court must order the vehicle released to the owner. 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). The statute also allows the owner, or any person whose right, title or interest is of record, to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he did not know, and did not have reason to know, that the vehicle was to be used in the commission of an offense. 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). The statute, however, does not provide for automatic return of the vehicle if an owner or person of interest makes such a showing. See 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006). Instead, the statute makes such a return discretionary with the court. See 720 ILCS 5/36-2(a) (West 2006) (where the State has made its showing, the Court may order the    vehicle    destroyed; may order it delivered to any local, municipal or county law enforcement agency, or the Department of State Police or the Department of Revenue of the State of Illinois; or may order it sold at public auction (emphasis added)). ¶ 18 Finally, section 36-4 of the Code provides for a remission procedure that allows a claimant or other person interested in a vehicle to file a petition for remission with the Attorney General. 720 ILCS 5/36-4 (West 2006). The provision makes clear that the Attorney General may grant remission of the vehicle if he finds the existence of mitigating circumstances to justify remission of the forfeiture, including that the owner or interested person incurred the forfeiture innocently, without any willful negligence or any intention to violate the law. 720 ILCS 5/36-4 (West 2006). But again, this provision makes the return of the vehicle in such cases purely discretionary, stating that the Attorney General may cause the [vehicle] to be remitted upon such terms and conditions as he deems reasonable and just, or order discontinuance of any forfeiture proceeding relating thereto. 720 ILCS 5/36-4 (West 2006).