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Committee advances consumer protections on towing fees with industry input
Summary
AB 987, aimed at curbing predatory towing fees and certain surcharges, advanced to Appropriations after the author and consumer groups said the bill would set clearer boundaries on excessive fees; the towing industry said it will continue to negotiate implementation details.
Assemblymember Sharpe Collins presented AB 987, which seeks to limit unreasonable towing fees including excessive holiday surcharges, storage fees during facility closures, and other practices identified by consumer advocates. Rosemary Shahan of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety urged passage, saying the bill "represents a significant step forward in consumer protection" for vulnerable Californians.
The California Tow Truck Association (CTTA) testified that it has no formal opposition but flagged operational concerns, including intake workload at tow yards and definitions of normal business hours during which storage rates apply. The committee discussed a liability-shield provision for certain tows during natural disasters; the vice chair said she wanted protections against gross negligence and that consumer attorneys and the towing association were negotiating language.
The committee passed AB 987 to Appropriations; the author and CTTA both pledged continued negotiations on remaining technical issues.
