Connecticut Overhauls Towing Laws

In a sweeping move to protect drivers from predatory towing practices, the Connecticut House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 7162 Thursday night with a vote of 126 to 21. The bipartisan legislation rewrites the state’s 100-year-old towing statutes, making it significantly harder for companies to tow vehicles from private property without proper notice and easier for owners to retrieve their cars after a tow.

The bill comes in response to a joint investigation by the Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica, which found that current laws allowed vehicles to be sold just 15 days after a tow—among the shortest windows in the nation. Many low-income residents lost their cars and jobs after being unable to pay fees or retrieve belongings.

The new law mandates that tow companies: -- Accept credit cards instead of requiring cash. -- Allow vehicle owners to retrieve personal items, even without paying the fee. -- Refrain from towing vehicles for expired registration or parking permits unless the vehicle blocks traffic, a fire hydrant, or an accessible space. -- Send certified mail to owners and lienholders before a vehicle is sold. -- Wait at least 30 days after a tow before finalizing a sale.

The bill also creates a working group to determine how proceeds from vehicle sales should be handled and requires the DMV to verify complaints before authorizing a sale. A consumer bill of rights is to be developed in coordination with the Attorney General.

“This is about fairness and accountability,” said Rep. Aimee Berger-Girvalo, D. “It ensures people aren’t losing their vehicles—and their livelihoods—without a real chance to get them back.”

The bill now heads to the Senate, where a vote is expected next week. Source: https://ctmirror.org