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House passes towing regulations after debate over fees, hours and consumer protections
Summary
Lawmakers approved a bill creating statewide standards for private towing and storage, including maximum fees, proof requirements and business-hour access; sponsors said changes protect consumers while opponents warned fixed rates risk harming small tow operators.
Dover, March 26 — The Delaware House passed House Bill 67 on a final vote after floor debate and an amendment that sponsors said responds to municipal and industry concerns.
The bill creates a new chapter in Title 21 of the Delaware Code governing removal of motor vehicles from public or private property by private tow companies and makes violations enforceable by the consumer protection unit of the Delaware Department of Justice. Representative Peter Ocinski, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure responds to constituent complaints about difficulty recovering towed vehicles and unequal practices around the state.
“The act creates a new chapter in Title 21, and it makes violations of the chapter an unlawful practice enforceable by the consumer protection unit,” Representative Ocinski said. He described several consumer protections included in the bill and the amendment, such as photographic documentation before a tow and written authorization to tow a specific vehicle.
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