§ 3C-5 — Record searches

When a law enforcement agency authorizing the impounding of a watercraft does not know the identity of the registered owner, lienholder or other legally entitled person, that law enforcement agency will cause the watercraft registration records of the State of Illinois to be searched by the Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of obtaining the required ownership information. The law enforcement agency authorizing the impounding of a watercraft will cause the stolen watercraft 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 watercraft. 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 watercraft is held, requesting that a disposition be made and setting forth public sale information. Notification shall be sent no later than 10 days after the date the law enforcement agency impounds or authorizes the impounding of a watercraft, 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 watercraft within a 10 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 watercraft is determined. Exceptions to a notification by certified mail to the registered owner, lienholder and other legally entitled persons are set forth in Section 3C-9.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)