Bill
HB 6062
HB 6062 sets statewide towing rules, mandates owner notices, SOS posting, and court review of abandonment and fees to protect vehicle owners and regulate wreckers.
Status / Procedural history
- House Bill introduced Nov 12, 2024 (Rep. Samantha Steckloff; co-sponsors listed). Referred to Transportation, Mobility & Infrastructure; subsequently proceeded through committee activity and hearings (public hearing 2/19/25), reported out and received further referral to Appropriations (ref. actions through 4/29/25).
- Bill would amend multiple sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code (1949 PA 300 — MCL 257.252a et seq.) and add new sections and a new chapter (adds secs. 68a, 252n, 252o and chapter IIA; repeals MCL 257.676c).
Purpose / intent
- Establish statewide guidelines and procedural changes governing wreckers/towing practices, towing fees and storage, and the handling of abandoned vehicles.
- Clarify definitions and notification, recordkeeping, and dispute-resolution procedures to protect vehicle owners and provide process rules for police, the Secretary of State (SOS), courts, and towing agencies.
Key provisions (from the introduced text)
- New definition: “towing agency” — person/business engaged in removing vehicles (towing, relocating, storing).
- Revised abandoned-vehicle definitions and location-specific rules (private property, private tow‑away zones, residential appurtenant property). Time thresholds updated for when a vehicle on public property is deemed abandoned (general 48 hours; if valid registration plate affixed — 18 hours).
- Procedures for police agencies:
- May affix written notice to vehicles; notice must include date/time, agency, officer name/badge, disposal date/time, vehicle details.
- If vehicle taken into custody, police must recheck for theft and enter the vehicle as abandoned into the law enforcement information network within 24 hours.
- Police (or designee) may arrange towing by a towing agency.
- Secretary of State duties:
- Within 3 days of police notice, SOS must mail first-class notice to last titled owner and secured party and post vehicle information on a public website for locating removed vehicles (data retained for 1 year or until disposal).
- Notice content specified (vehicle details, custodian, redemption and contest procedures, form petition, warning about sale after 20 days).
- Owner rights and contest process:
- Owner may contest abandonment or reasonableness of towing/storage fees by filing a petition in court within 20 days and posting a bond equal to $40 plus accrued towing/storage fees (or pay $40 plus fees to obtain release); disputes resolved under sections 252e/252f.
- Miscellaneous: updates throughout related sections (252d, 252e, 252f, 252g, 252k, 252l, 676d, 907) to align with new processes and chapter additions; repeal of former sec. 676c.
Who is affected
- Vehicle owners and secured parties (enhanced notice and contest rights).
- Towing agencies / wrecker businesses (new statutory definitions, likely new practice/rate guidelines and administrative requirements).
- Police agencies (added timelines and notice/form requirements).
- Secretary of State (new mailing and website publication duties).
- Courts (hearings on abandonment and fee reasonableness).
- Salvage pools, insurers and property owners (definitions and custody/disposition rules).
Potential impacts
- Increased administrative workload and time-sensitive obligations for police and SOS (24‑hour and 3‑day actions).
- Greater procedural protections for vehicle owners (explicit notice, website listing, ability to contest fees).
- Towing businesses may face new regulatory guidance on fees and practices and clearer dispute exposure.
- Fiscal impacts to state/local agencies and potential impacts to towing industry revenue — final fiscal effects to be determined by fiscal analysis.
Note
- The posted bill text is partially truncated; this summary covers the available introduced-version text and identifies main changes reflected in the amendments and additions. For full operative language and all specific rate/practice rules (if contained in the new chapter IIA or added sections), consult the complete bill text as enacted or the full introduced bill.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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