Florida towing law tackles overbilling, other illegal practices
Unscrupulous towing operators have charged as much as $10,000 for a routine tow, the NICB reports.
Florida has enrolled a law that reforms the state’s towing regulations to protect consumers from predatory towing practices, which the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported is a significant issue in the state.
“There is a real need for comprehensive reform to protect consumers from unfair and exploitative practices,” said Melony Bell of the Florida House of Representatives. “Until meaningful reform is enacted, individuals in Florida will remain vulnerable to the pitfalls of predatory towing, with the potential for financial hardship and emotional distress looming over every parking decision.”
According to the NICB, Florida law enforcement agencies have seen tow operators charge as much as $10,000 to haul a vehicle away following an accident.
Provisions of the updated law include:
- Mandates counties, cities and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) to publish their maximum towing and storage rates online.
- Establishes a complaint resolution process for excessive fees.
- Defines “towing-storage operator” and specifies permissible fees for their services.
- Clarifies when law enforcement can access information about towed vehicles or vessels.
- Reduces the timeframe for which storage fees cannot be charged if notice isn’t provided to a lender or lienholder.
- Specifies acceptable documents as evidence of ownership interest in vehicles or vessels.
- Amends provisions for inspection, release and challenges regarding towing.
- Requires towing-storage operators to accept specific payment methods.
- Sets requirements for record retention, rate sheets and itemized invoices by towing-storage operators.
- Authorizes towing-storage operators to enter vehicles or vessels for recovery, removal or storage purposes.
- Prohibits FHP from excluding wrecker operators based solely on certain felony convictions.
- Requires investigating agencies or specified persons to take possession of vehicles stored at wrecker operator facilities within 30 days.
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