Bill Text: IN SB0185 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Motor fuel theft.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-05 - First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters [SB0185 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2010-SB0185-Introduced.html
Citations Affected: IC 24-4.6-5; IC 34-24-3-1.
Synopsis: Motor fuel theft.
Provides that if motor fuel from a retailer
is pumped into a vehicle and proper payment is not made to the retailer,
the owner of the vehicle is liable to the retailer for the total pump price
of the motor fuel pumped plus a service charge of $50. Provides that a
retailer, to collect from the vehicle owner, must send a notice of
nonpayment to the vehicle owner by certified mail. Allows a retailer to
use a designee to send notices and make collections. Provides that, if
a vehicle owner does not pay the total pump price of the motor fuel
pumped plus the service charge within 30 days after the retailer sends
the notice, the vehicle owner is also subject to liability to the retailer
for other damages, costs, fees, and expenses. Provides that within 30
days after the sending of the retailer's notice, the vehicle owner may
send a written response to the retailer disputing the retailer's claim or
stating that, when the motor fuel was pumped into the vehicle, the
vehicle owner was not operating the vehicle and was not responsible
for paying for the motor fuel. Provides that if a vehicle owner sends
such a response to the retailer, the retailer shall stop communicating
with the vehicle owner but may still seek to recover from the vehicle
owner by initiating a civil action. Requires the bureau of motor
vehicles (BMV) to adopt rules under which retailers may obtain the
names and mailing addresses of vehicle owners from the BMV for
purposes of recovering for motor fuel that is pumped into vehicles
without payment being made.
Effective: July 1, 2010.
January 5, 2010, read first time and referred to Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and
Civil Matters.
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A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade
regulation.
Chapter 5. Vehicle Owner Liability for Motor Fuel Theft
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "motor fuel" includes gasoline (as defined in IC 6-6-1.1-103(g)), special fuel (as defined in IC 6-6-2.5-22), and alternative fuel (as defined in IC 6-6-2.5-1).
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "retailer" means a person that engages in the business of selling or distributing motor fuel to an end user within Indiana.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "vehicle" has the meaning set forth in IC 6-6-5-1(a).
Sec. 4. (a) Subject to section 6(b) of this chapter, if:
(1) motor fuel from a retailer is pumped into a vehicle; and
(2) proper payment is not made to the retailer for the motor fuel;
the owner of the vehicle is liable to the retailer for the total pump
price of the motor fuel pumped into the vehicle plus a service
charge of fifty dollars ($50).
(b) The service charge may be imposed upon a vehicle owner
when notice is mailed to the vehicle owner under section 5 of this
chapter. Only one (1) service charge may be imposed under this
section for each incident in which motor fuel is pumped into a
vehicle and proper payment is not made.
Sec. 5. (a) To collect a liability from a vehicle owner under this
chapter, a retailer (or the retailer's designee) must first send a
notice of nonpayment to the vehicle owner by certified mail, to the
address indicated by records obtained under section 8 of this
chapter.
(b) A notice sent under subsection (a) must:
(1) state the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped into
the vehicle owner's vehicle and the amount of the service
charge;
(2) state how the vehicle owner is to pay the liability;
(3) include a copy of this chapter and IC 34-24-3;
(4) state that, subject to section 6(b) of this chapter, the
vehicle owner is subject to liability for an amount equal to
triple the total pump price of the motor fuel received plus
other damages under IC 34-24-3-1 if the liability is not paid
within thirty (30) days; and
(5) include a signed statement by the retailer or the employee
of the retailer who reported the incident in which motor fuel
was pumped into the vehicle owner's vehicle and proper
payment was not made, setting forth:
(A) the date, time, and location of the incident; and
(B) the license plate number of the vehicle into which the
motor fuel was pumped.
Sec. 6. (a) Subject to subsections (b), if a vehicle owner does not
pay the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped and the service
charge within thirty (30) days after the retailer or the retailer's
designee sends the notice to the vehicle owner under section 5 of
this chapter, the vehicle owner:
(1) is liable to the retailer for:
(A) the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped, as set
forth in the notice sent under section 5 of this chapter; and
(B) the service charge under section 4 of this chapter; and
(2) is subject to liability to the retailer for other damages,
costs, fees, and expenses in an action brought by the retailer
under IC 34-24-3-1.
(b) If a vehicle owner, not more than thirty (30) days after the retailer or the retailer's designee sends the notice to the vehicle owner under section 5 of this chapter, sends written notice to the retailer or its designee:
(1) disputing the retailer's claim that motor fuel was pumped into the vehicle owner's vehicle and proper payment was not made; or
(2) stating that, when motor fuel was pumped into the vehicle owner's vehicle and proper payment was not made, the vehicle owner was not operating the vehicle and was not responsible for paying for the motor fuel pumped into the vehicle;
the vehicle owner does not become liable to the retailer under subsection (a)(1), and the retailer (and any designee of the retailer) shall cease communications and all collection efforts under this chapter. However, the retailer may pursue a civil action against the vehicle owner under IC 34-24-3-1.
Sec. 7. If a vehicle owner does not:
(1) pay the total pump price of the motor fuel pumped and the service charge in response to a notice sent by a retailer under this chapter; or
(2) reply to the retailer's notice with a written notice under section 6(b)(1) or 6(b)(2) of this chapter;
the vehicle owner's civil liability under this chapter does not preclude criminal liability under IC 35-43-4-2, IC 35-43-4-3, IC 35-43-4-8, or any other law.
Sec. 8. (a) The bureau of motor vehicles shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to implement a system by which a retailer or an association of retailers may obtain the name and mailing address of the owner of a vehicle involved in an incident in which motor fuel is pumped into the vehicle and proper payment is not made. The bureau of motor vehicles may integrate any system established under this section with its existing programs for the release of information under IC 9-14-3.
(b) The bureau of motor vehicles may enter into an agreement with an association of retailers to establish:
(1) a fee different from the fees provided for in IC 9-29-2-2(a); or
(2) other negotiated terms for the release of vehicle owner records;
for purposes of the system established under this section.
(c) Any release of information by the bureau of motor vehicles
under this section must be:
(1) consistent with the authority of the bureau of motor
vehicles under IC 9-14-3.5; and
(2) in compliance with 18 U.S.C. 2721 et seq.
(1) An amount not to exceed three (3) times:
(A) the actual damages of the person suffering the loss, in the case of a liability that is not covered by IC 24-4.6-5; or
(B) the total pump price of the motor fuel received, in the case of a liability that is covered by IC 24-4.6-5.
(2) The costs of the action.
(3) A reasonable attorney's fee.
(4) Actual travel expenses that are not otherwise reimbursed under subdivisions (1) through (3) and are incurred by the person suffering loss to:
(A) have the person suffering loss or an employee or agent of that person file papers and attend court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter; or
(B) provide witnesses to testify in court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter.
(5) A reasonable amount to compensate the person suffering loss for time used to:
(A) file papers and attend court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter; or
(B) travel to and from activities described in clause (A).
(6) Actual direct and indirect expenses incurred by the person suffering loss to compensate employees and agents for time used to:
(A) file papers and attend court proceedings related to the recovery of a judgment under this chapter; or
(B) travel to and from activities described in clause (A).
(7) All other reasonable costs of collection.
