Florida legislators approved a groundbreaking measure aimed at shielding motorists from unscrupulous towing companies.

On March 22, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis officially enacted HB179, marking a pivotal moment in Florida’s legislative history.

Representative Melony Bell spearheaded the bill’s introduction, with Senator Keith Perry championing a corresponding version in the Senate.

This new legislation introduces more than a dozen amendments to Florida’s existing towing regulations, designed to safeguard drivers from deceptive or exploitative towing practices.

A key provision mandates that Florida’s counties, municipalities, and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) must establish and publicly disclose maximum towing and storage rates online. Additionally, mechanisms for investigating and addressing complaints about excessive fees will be established.

The bill is slated to become law on July 1, 2024.

“There is a real need for comprehensive reform to protect consumers from unfair and exploitative practices. 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,” said Rep. Bell.

“We need decisive action to combat predatory towing practices and ensure fairness and transparency for Florida’s residents,” said Senator Perry. “This law would implement important measures that protect consumers and promote accountability within the towing industry.”

Additional stipulations within the freshly minted towing law encompass:

  • Mandating towing-storage operators to furnish a rate sheet and detailed invoice upon demand, with a further requirement to display this sheet prominently at their establishments.
  • Enforcing towing-storage operators to broaden the scope of payment methods they accept.
  • Elevating the minimum duration before an unclaimed newer model vehicle or vessel becomes eligible for sale.
  • Reducing the timeframe during which a towing-storage operator cannot levy storage fees if they neglected to inform a vehicle or vessel’s lender or other lien holder.

“Predatory towing in Florida has emerged as a pressing issue for the Sunshine State, significantly impacting individuals’ lives and livelihoods and this measure will go a long way in implementing critical reform measures,” said Eric De Campos, Senior Director of Strategy, Policy and Government Affairs for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. “We really appreciate the hard work by Representative Bell and Senator Perry to address this issue, because predatory towing places significant financial burdens on unsuspecting vehicle owners as hidden towing fees leaves individuals with an unexpected and hefty expense. We also want to thank the legislature for addressing this important issue, and the governor for signing this bill into law.”

For further insights into the newly enacted legislation, you can delve into its specifics by visiting the provided link.