Bill
H 3516
Establishes a public, max-fee schedule for towing and storage by police-contracted tow companies; requires compliance, penalties, and biennial updates to keep prices transparent.
Status and timeline
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Referred to: Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
- Hearing: Scheduled for May 6, 2025 (A-2)
- Reporting date extended: December 3, 2025
- Related action: Senate concurrence noted; House Docket No. 4077 (HD 4077 replaces)
Purpose and intent
- The bill aims to curb predatory and undisclosed towing and storage charges for vehicles towed under police authorization.
- It would create a standardized, publicly posted schedule of maximum fees for towing, storage, and related services to be used by towing companies under contract with state or local police departments.
- The overarching goal is to protect vehicle owners from excessive or surprise charges and to promote transparency and uniform pricing.
Key provisions
1) Establishment of approved charges (Section 1)
- The Department of Utilities must establish a list of approved charges for towing and storage services performed by police-contracted towing companies.
- The list must include:
- Maximum towing fees based on vehicle size/weight.
- Maximum storage fees based on storage duration.
- Maximum fees for additional services (e.g., winching, dolly fees, or other special equipment).
- The Department must review and update the list at least once every two years to reflect current market conditions.
- The list must be publicly accessible on the Department’s website and copies must be provided to all contracted towing companies.
2) Compliance, enforcement, and regulatory framework (Section 2)
- Towing companies contracted by police departments are required to adhere to the approved charges when invoicing vehicle owners.
- Violations can incur penalties per offense.
- The Department of Utilities has the authority to:
- Investigate complaints and inspect records of contracted towing companies.
- Suspend or revoke contracts for repeated or willful violations.
- Promulgate regulations to implement the Act.
- The bill states that it does not limit law enforcement agencies’ authority to tow or impound vehicles under existing law.
- Effective date: The bill provides for an implementation period, with an effective date 90 or 120 days after passage (subject to administrative rulemaking and implementation needs).
Affected parties
- Vehicle owners: Potentially lower and more predictable towing and storage costs; greater price transparency.
- Towing companies contracted with police departments: Required to align charges with the approved schedule; subject to penalties and potential contract suspension/revocation for noncompliance.
- State and local police departments: Will continue to tow/impound under existing law but must utilize contracted providers that comply with the approved charges.
- Department of Utilities: Responsible for implementing, updating, enforcing, and regulating the approved charges.
Administrative and implementation notes
- The Department must publish the approved charges and ensure compliance through regulatory action and contract oversight.
- The act envisions ongoing regulation and updates every two years to reflect market changes.
Note on status
- The bill is in the 2025-2026 session and has seen a reporting-date extension to December 3, 2025.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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