California Lawmakers Pass Towing and Storage Fees Bill

The California General Assembly has approved Assembly Bill 987, which now heads to the governor’s desk for signing. Introduced on Feb. 20 by Assembly Member LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-79), the bill seeks to clarify what constitutes “unreasonable” vehicle storage fees.

Initially, the measure declared it unreasonable to charge fees for days when storage facilities were closed, including holidays. The revised version narrows that definition, specifying that unreasonable charges include “any storage fees for state holidays that exceed the posted daily storage fee.”

Other provisions were also removed. The original bill would have prohibited storage charges for vehicles towed during natural disasters or for stolen vehicles recovered within seven days. Instead, the amended bill now limits fees to no more than 50% above the daily rate if the owner retrieves the vehicle within 12 hours.

The California Autobody Association, represented by lobbyist Jack Molodanof, pushed for these changes. Molodanof said lawmakers responded positively to concerns that the bill blurred differences between towing operators regulated by the DMV and repair shops regulated by the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Source: https://www.repairerdrivennews.com